Suicide is the leading cause of death among young Australians. Around 300 young people aged 18 to 24 take their own lives every year. For every young person who dies by suicide, there are many more who attempt to take their life, or self-harm.
People of all ages, races, genders, incomes and family backgrounds die by suicide. But young people are especially at risk.
Not every young person who has suicidal thoughts will take their life. However, any thought of suicide should be taken seriously.
Common risk factors for suicide include:
Other things that put young people at risk include:
With support, a young person who is having suicidal thoughts can work through their situation.
Never ignore the warning signs that a young person may be thinking about suicide.
A young person who is having suicidal thoughts may:
Some behaviours may also be warning signs of suicide. They may:
A young person who is having suicidal thoughts may also lose motivation for self-care. They may:
Sometimes there will be no signs that a person is thinking of suicide. Checking in with young people in your life regardless of how mentally well they seem can help. This will help them feel supported and reduce their suicide risk.
If someone you know is considering suicide it can be very worrying. There are things you can do to help.
Young people are at a lower risk of attempting suicide if they have positive relationships with those around them including:
Helping the young person to build resilience can also reduce their risk of suicide.
Helping young people feel safe, supported and part of the community are all important ways to reduce their risk of suicide. You can read more about supporting someone with a mental illness.
If you, or someone you know, is having suicidal thoughts and is in immediate danger, call triple zero (000). For help and support, call Lifeline (Opens in new tab) on 13 11 14. Don't leave the person alone until help arrives.
SANE Australia has a factsheet on how to help when someone is suicidal (Opens in new tab).
If you or a young person you know is having suicidal thoughts, the first thing to do is talk about it.
Asking questions can help a young person who is feeling suicidal. Do not be afraid to be direct and ask them if they are thinking about suicide. If they are, ask them if they have a plan for when and how they would take their life. These can be difficult questions for you to ask. You may worry that asking will encourage suicidal thoughts — this is not true. These questions are important and can:
Encourage the young person to talk to you. If they share what they are going through, listen respectfully. Avoid trying to solve their problems, and don't worry if you don't fully understand why they are feeling suicidal. Focus on listening and being supportive.
When talking to someone who is suicidal, it is important to avoid blame and judgement. There are some examples below.
SuicideLine has information on how to talk to someone who may be suicidal (Opens in new tab).
If a young person is feeling suicidal, it may be overwhelming for them to tell you what would help them. Instead, you can offer specific things that may support and distract them, like:
If you are with a young person who is thinking about suicide, do not leave them alone. Make sure they do not have access to things that they could harm themselves with, such as:
If you are a young person who is experiencing suicidal thoughts, you may need professional help, not just support from loved ones.
If you know a young person who is having suicidal thoughts, you can:
Your young person may not want to get help. If so, remind them that it is normal to seek support. It can help them to know that there are different options available, including free services and telehealth.
You also need to look after your own mental health so you have the capacity to support your young person. You are not alone — seeking help if you need it can also set an example for your young person.
A young person who is experiencing thoughts of suicide should see a qualified mental health professional. The right treatment and support can help them recover. There are many different treatment options.
If you are a young person having thoughts of suicide or struggling with your mental health, see a doctor.
Your doctor can:
You can read more about talking to your doctor about mental health.
If someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, you can help them develop a suicide safety plan (Opens in new tab). This plan involves steps that a young person can follow when or if they are feeling suicidal. These steps might include:
Beyond Now is an easy-to-use suicide safety planning app for smartphones. You can find out how to download it from Lifeline (Opens in new tab).
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, you can call a mental health helpline to speak to a mental health professional. These services are all available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you, or someone you know, is having suicidal thoughts and is in immediate danger, call triple zero (000). For help and support, call Lifeline (Opens in new tab) on 13 11 14.
State and territory helplines include the following.
For more information about suicide prevention and support for young people with suicidal thoughts, visit the following websites. These organisations cannot offer crisis support.
For guidance on talking about suicide in your community or online, you can visit the Conversations Matter (Opens in new tab) website and use the Orygen #chatsafe tool (Opens in new tab).
For advice and to connect to local mental health services, call Medicare Mental Health (Opens in new tab) on 1800 595 212. Check the operating times.
You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, you can visit 13YARN (Opens in new tab) for support. To talk to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter, you can also call 13YARN on 13 92 76.
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Last reviewed: July 2025
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