About Out of the Shadows

You can make a difference by participating in Lifeline’s Out of the Shadows - national suicide prevention walks held to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10 every year. Join us as we walk to raise awareness, remember those lost to suicide and unite in a commitment to prevent further deaths by suicide. Get involved by joining a walk or organising a walk in your local community.

World Suicide Prevention Day

The World Health Organization estimates that over 800,000 people die by suicide each year – that’s one person every 40 seconds. Up to 25 times as many again make a suicide attempt.

Sadly, in the last reporting period in Australia, there were 3,128 lives lost to suicide within 12 months. A 9 percent increase on the year before. Research also tells us that some 65,000 Australian think about attempting suicide each year.

The tragic ripple effect means that there are many, many more people who have been bereaved by suicide or have been close to someone who has tried to take his or her own life, as well as those struggling to manage suicidal ideation.