One Canberran dies by suicide every week. Across Australia, 3,000 people die by suicide every year – nine every day.
On World Suicide Prevention Day next Thursday, Lifeline Canberra will hold its annual Out of the Shadows walk to remember those lost to suicide and support people experiencing emotional distress or mental illness.
“It’s a day that we can honour, reflect, and remember those that we’ve lost by suicide in the community – whether that’s family, friends, neighbours, colleagues,” Lifeline interim CEO Adam Miller said.
The dawn vigil meets at the National Carillion at 5.40am. A walk across King’s Avenue Bridge to coffee will follow.
Every death by suicide impacts 150 people, Mr Miller said.
Mr Miller said there was no single explanation for why someone reached a suicidal crisis.
“It could be relationship breakdowns; it could be financial crisis. There’s a lot of underlying influences.”
Even national and international events – COVID lockdowns, overseas conflict – could impact people.
Mr Miller urged someone thinking about suicide to ring Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support service, 13 11 14.
“The hardest part is to take that first step: to pick up the phone and ring somebody,” Mr Miller said. “But I hear from people who have done that – and that one call has saved their life.
“We don’t judge what level somebody’s crisis is. If they’re in a crisis, that’s important to them. Pick up the phone and ring Lifeline.”
Lifeline receives around 3,000 phone calls nationally each day, as well as another 1,000 contacts through text and webchat.
Although suicide deaths had fallen in the ACT in the most recent figures, demand for crisis support remains extraordinarily high.
Eight of the 10 busiest days in Lifeline’s six-decade history occurred in the past two years. In the last 12 months to the end of June, more than 36,000 Canberrans reached out to Lifeline – a 60 per cent increase over the year before.
Mr Miller said changes in normal behaviour could be a warning that someone was struggling. People spend more time with work colleagues than with family, so they may notice someone has become withdrawn or behaving differently before relatives do.
“Don’t be afraid to ask somebody you know if you notice something’s wrong, or that they’ve not been themselves,” Mr Miller said.
“Just say: ‘Hey, I noticed that you’re not yourself. You OK? You want to have a chat?’ You don’t have to try to solve somebody’s crisis for them. Most of the time, they just want somebody to listen, to acknowledge what they’re feeling, and what they’re going through. If you can help and support, perfect.”
The public can support Lifeline by attending or volunteering at events throughout the year; supporting community fundraising activities such as the Lifeline Bookfair, being held at Exhibition Park this weekend; and buying from Lifeline’s bookshop at the Fyshwick Markets.
$26 covered the cost of one crisis-support call.
“That small purchase might save somebody’s life,” Mr Miller said.
For Mr Miller, the most important thing is that people did not wait until a crisis became overwhelming before reaching out.
“The biggest thing is to talk to your friends and family,” Mr Miller said. “Don’t be afraid to ask somebody that you know if you notice something’s wrong with somebody, or that they’ve not been themselves. They’re probably just waiting for somebody to ask that they can talk to about it. Then refer them through to Lifeline. We’re here for every Canberran.”
To sign up for the Out Of The Shadows Walk, visit https://www.lifelinecanberra.org.au/events/oots/.
