Jesuit Social Services welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft advice on the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

The advice was drafted by the National Suicide Prevention Office, and released for consultation in September 2024. The Office’s final advice will be provided to the Commonwealth Government to guide suicide prevention activities across Australia over the next 10 years.

Our response welcomes a broad approach to suicide prevention that accounts for diverse health needs, addresses socio-economic factors and recognises the disproportionate ways that suicide and suicide distress impacts different population groups.

Based on our experience working with communities affected by suicide, we highlight key areas for focusing suicide prevention effort, including:

  • Holistic approaches that consider the impact of insecure housing, unemployment and life transitions on suicide risk
  • Postvention support for people bereaved by suicide
  • Accessible and compassionate systems of care
  • Inclusion of carers, family and kin in care planning
  • Targeted prevention initiatives for population groups that experience suicide risks in unique and disproportionate ways, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse people, men and boys, and people with disability
  • Provision of healthcare services for people in custodial settings, including people in adult prisons, youth detention and immigration detention.