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If life in danger call Triple Zero 000
If life in danger call Triple Zero 000

Data and statistics

Suicide has a devastating impact on families, friends and whole communities. The following statistics can be confronting, behind every number is a human life. We believe most suicides are preventable and will continue to advocate, educate and work to keep people safe until we achieve our vision of an Australia free of suicide.

Lifeline Statistics

Lifeline is Australia’s largest suicide prevention service provider.

  • Each year, over 1 million Australians reach out to Lifeline for support.
  • Lifeline’s 13 11 14 crisis support line receives a call every 28 seconds.
  • Lifeline’s network of 41 centres, 10,000 volunteers, and 1,000 employees provide a lifesaving national infrastructure for those experiencing immense pain and anguish.
  • There are 3,500 Crisis Supporters working with Lifeline so that no person in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone.

  

Suicide Statistics

  • 8.6 Australians die every day by suicide. That’s more than double the road toll (ABS, 2022).
  • 75% of those who take their own life are male (ABS, 2022).
  • An unknown number of Australians attempt suicide every year, with some estimates suggesting this figure may be over 65,000 (Slade et al, 2009).
  • Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians between the ages of 15 and 44 (AIHW, 2022a).
  • The suicide rate in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is twice that of their non-Indigenous counterparts (ABS, 2022).
  • People in rural populations are 2 times more likely to take their life by suicide (AIHW, 2022b).
  • LGBTIQ+ community members report having attempted suicide in the past 12 months at a rate 10 times higher than the general Australian population (Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, 2021; Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, 2020).
  • Beyond the tragic loss of the person, the impact of suicide deaths are felt by up to 135 people, including family members, work colleagues, friends, first responders at the time of death (Cerel et al, 2019).
  • Males aged 85 and older experience the highest age-specific rate of suicide (ABS, 2022).
  • An estimated 1 in 3 of Australians reported feeling lonely (AIHW, 2021). Lifeline is here to listen.

 

 

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