How common is suicide in young people?

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.

Who is at risk of suicide?

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:

• having a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or PTSD
• having a mental health crisis
• having a physical illness or disability
• using substances such as drugs or alcohol
• a history of suicide attempts

Other things that put young people at risk include:

• problems with family or romantic relationships
• legal or financial problems
• a recent death or suicide of someone they know
• experiencing bullying, abuse or trauma
• having access to potentially harmful medicines, weapons or sharp objects
• being gay, lesbian, bisexual, gender-diverse or intersex
• being an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

With support, a young person who is having suicidal thoughts can work through their situation.

What are some of the warning signs for suicide?

Never ignore the warning signs that a young person may be thinking about suicide.

A young person who is having suicidal thoughts may:

• talk about dying a lot — they may say they want to die or that they would be better off dead
• show big changes in their mood or behaviour
• become irritable or have emotional outbursts
• feel guilty or like they are a burden to others
• feel worthless or hopeless
• feel lonely or misunderstood
• feel distressed or overwhelmed

Some behaviours may also be warning signs of suicide. They may:

• self-harm such as cutting their skin
• become withdrawn and lose interest in hobbies, friends or social activities
• try to give away their belongings
• seem to stop caring about other people or events
• start taking risks such as using alcohol or drugs
• become involved in criminal activity or run away from home
• begin having issues with school or work performance

A young person who is having suicidal thoughts may also lose motivation for self-care. They may:

• have a loss of appetite or neglect their nutrition
• have difficulty sleeping
• avoid physical activity
• neglect their personal hygiene

How can I protect against suicide?

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:

• parents or guardians
• friends
• other adults such as teachers

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.

What should I do if I or someone I know is having suicidal thoughts?

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 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.

Talk with them

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:

• help you understand their risk of suicide
• show that you care about them
• show you want to listen and talk with them

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.

• Instead of “You need help” try “You deserve support”.
• Instead of “That is bad” try “That sounds difficult.”
• Instead of “It’s not that bad” try “Help me understand why you are feeling like this” or “I can see you are in pain, and I am here for you”.
• Instead of “I know how you feel” try “It makes sense that you feel that way”.
• Instead of “Just calm down” try “I will sit here with you”.

SuicideLine has information on how to talk to someone who may be suicidal.

Provide support and distraction

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:

• a cold drink of water they can sip at slowly
• a short walk together
• doing breathing exercises together
• asking if they would like a hug

Take steps to keep them safe

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:

• sharp objects
• drugs
• weapons
• medicines
• a car

Support them to get help

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:

• encourage them to seek help
• assure them that you will support them
• ask them to tell you or another adult if they have suicidal thoughts again
• reassure them that help is available

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.

What should I do in the longer term?

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:

• assess your mental health
• help you develop a mental health treatment plan
• refer you for help, such as from a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist

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. This plan involves steps that a young person can follow when or if they are feeling suicidal. These steps might include:

• noticing their warning signs
• taking steps to make themselves safe
• listing things to recognise their strengths, their worth and their reasons to live
• doing something to distract themselves

Beyond Now is an easy-to-use suicide safety planning app for smartphones. You can find out how to download it from Lifeline.

Resources and support

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.

• Lifeline — call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or chat online
• Suicide Call Back Service — call 1300 659 467
• Kids Helpline — call 1800 55 1800 or chat online
• Beyond Blue — call 1300 224 636 or chat online

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 on 13 11 14.

State and territory helplines include the following.

• Australian Capital Territory — Access Mental Health on 1800 629 354
• New South Wales — Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511
• Northern Territory — Northern Territory mental health line on 1800 682 288
• Queensland — Mental health access line on 1300 642 255
• South Australia — Mental Health Triage Service on 13 14 65
• Tasmania — Access Mental Health on 1800 332 388
• Victoria — SuicideLine Victoria on 1300 651 251
• Western Australia — Mental Health Emergency Response Line on 1800 676 822 (if you are in the Peel area) or 1300 555 788 (if you are in the Perth area), or the Here For You Support Line on 1800 437 248 (from anywhere in Western Australia).

Non-emergency support

For more information about suicide prevention and support for young people with suicidal thoughts, visit the following websites. These organisations cannot offer crisis support.

• ReachOut has information on suicide prevention strategies and support for young people. They also have resources about suicide and teenagers for parents and carers. You can chat to a ReachOut peer worker online.
• Headspace has information on understanding and dealing with suicide. They also offer support in person, online or by phone on 1800 650 890.
• Raising Children Network has information on self-harm, suicidal thoughts & suicide attempts in teenagers.
• Tune In Not Out (TINO) has information on suicide, as well as self-harm, supporting a friend with a mental illness and getting help.

For guidance on talking about suicide in your community or online, you can visit the Conversations Matter website and use the Orygen #chatsafe tool.

For advice and to connect to local mental health services, call Medicare Mental Health 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.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

If you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, you can visit 13YARN for support. To talk to an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter, you can also call 13YARN on 13 92 76.