Health experts call for more holistic approach on suicide prevention

A new six-paper series shows there needs to be a change in the approach of suicide prevention, calling for social factors to be given the same importance as mental health issues.

A person poses for a photograph in Melbourne, Friday, February 2, 2024. (AAP Image/Diego Fedele) NO ARCHIVING Credit: AAPIMAGE

Key Points

• Based on data from the World Health Organisation, in 2019, more than 700,000 people worldwide committed suicide.
• In Australia, figures show that one in two people have been impacted by suicide in some form by the time they turn 25.
• A new six-paper series, published in The Lancet public health journal, is calling for a change on suicide prevention.

10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day. If this story raises issues for you, phone Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.