#YouCanTalk About Suicide and Save Lives

hello • 20 July 2018

In an Australian first, leading mental health and suicide prevention organisations are joining forces to support the general public to talk openly about suicide with their friends and family in a bid to save more lives.

Launching today, #YouCanTalk marks a new direction - and collaboration - for suicide prevention in Australia, led by beyondblue, Black Dog Institute, Everymind, headspace, Lifeline, ReachOut and R U OK?.

It is an unprecedented national campaign giving people the confidence and tools to ask direct questions about suicide if they observe signs family or friends are not themselves or appear deeply troubled.

#YouCanTalk is a direct response to a landmark survey of 3000 people in Australia that found many want to do more to prevent suicide in their communities, but don’t know how. This includes half of all respondents believing only mental health professionals can help prevent suicide, while 40 per cent worried talking about suicide made things worse.

The campaign aims to mobilise the community and empower family and friends to act as ‘eyes and ears’ to ensure their loved ones can get support before reaching crisis point.

This includes recognising the signs that someone may be thinking of suicide, how to talk about it openly and honestly and what to do if someone says they are not coping and need support.

By giving Australians the resources, training and support they need to help prevent suicide, #YouCanTalk will, in turn, seek to reduce suicide rates. In 2016, 2866 people died by suicide in Australia.

To find out how to safely talk about suicide, support the campaign or access support services follow #YouCanTalk on social media or go to www.lifeinmindaustralia.com.au/youcantalk.

THE QUOTES
“Our message is this: #YouCanTalk about suicide. Half the population think that they can’t. We are on a mission to partner with the community to prevent suicide in this country,” beyondblue CEO Georgie Harman said.

“The evidence is in: it is not harmful to ask someone if they are thinking about taking their own life or find out if they have made a plan. In fact, it could help. It’s important that we all know the facts about suicide and our prevention efforts are informed by what the research tells us,” Black Dog Institute Director Prof Helen Christensen said.

“Suicide is an issue that many find difficult to talk about, but it is an issue that is having major impacts on communities across Australia. #YouCanTalk is about giving people the confidence to have the conversation by connecting them to the tools that can support them,”  Everymind Director Jaelea Skehan said.

“Suicide is not a silent killer. There are signs that we can all look out for, particularly when it comes to young people, who have a range of life stresses that may be masking something deeper,” headspace CEO Jason Trethowan said.

“Australia has world-leading suicide prevention services and we want to ensure people who need them access them. However, the reality is, not everyone will seek help themselves – they may firstly disclose their need to family and friends,” Lifeline CEO Bob Gilkes said.

“The more #YouCanTalk about suicide with your friends and family in an open, honest and empathetic way, the more lives we can save,” ReachOut CEO Jono Nicholas said.

“You know your friends and family best and you are best-placed to have an open conversation with them and help them find the right support if something isn’t right,” R U OK? CEO Brendan Maher said.


THE SIGNS
Indicators that someone might be at risk of suicide include:

  1. Withdrawing from friends, family and social activities.
  2. Change in their mood or extreme mood swings – sadness, agitation.
  3. Disinterest in maintaining personal hygiene or appearance.
  4. Uncharacteristically reckless behaviour, including increasing alcohol or drug use.
  5. Talking about death, suicide and wanting to die.
*This is not an exhaustive list. Be guided by your instincts.


THE DOs & DON’Ts

DO

  • Let your friend or loved one know you have noticed they’re behaving differently.
  • If you feel uncertain and that your friend or loved one may be at risk, do ask the question. Are you having thoughts about suicide? Be prepared for the answer to be yes. Then listen with empathy and without judgement.
  • Make sure they’re safe for now and support them to seek help.
DON’T
  • Don’t try to talk them out of suicide by reminding them ‘what they’ve got going for them’ or how much it would hurt their friends and family.
  • Don’t try to fix their problems.
  • Don’t dismiss it as ‘attention seeking’. Take them seriously and acknowledge the reasons they want to die.
THE EVIDENCE
Recent national research conducted by University of Melbourne found, via a representative survey of 3002 Australians:
  • Almost 50% of participants believed that helping a person at risk of suicide requires the skill of a professional.
  • About 40% of respondents believed that suicide happens without warning.
  • About 40% believed that asking someone about suicide could make them start thinking about it.
  • About 40% believed trying to help someone at risk could make the situation worse.
Download the full report here: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/research-project-files/suicide-prevention-research...


Caring for yourself and others following traumatic events

14 December 2025
The recent incident in Sydney has left many feeling distressed and overwhelmed, and you may notice the children in your life are struggling too. Below, you’ll find advice from mental health experts on caring for your own wellbeing, and providing meaningful support to others in the days and weeks ahead. Talking to children about traumatic events Children are likely to have seen and heard distressing information about this incident. Ongoing news coverage, images and discussion can intensify feelings of anxiety, sadness and anger. The Child Mind Institute has published a practical guide to help parents and carers talk with children about traumatic events. The guide offers practical age-specific advice and has been developed by experts in child psychology, you can access this guide here . Events involving violence or serious harm can be especially difficult for children to understand or discuss. The guide focuses on helping children feel safe, supported and reassured, and encourages parents, carers or guardians to: Provide comfort and reassurance, including physical affection Remain calm and measured when discussing the event Maintain regular routines to restore a sense of normality Encourage play, connection and time with others Share honest, age-appropriate information from trusted sources Limit children’s exposure to news, especially younger children Listen patiently and validate children’s feelings Recognise that fear, anger, sadness or guilt are all normal reactions Looking after yourself, and supporting others Rachel Clements, R U OK? Advisor, and Director of Psychological Services at Centre for Corporate Health, said strong emotional reactions are normal and healthy for people of all ages following public acts of violence, even among those not directly impacted. “Some reactions that are incredibly normal are concern, shock, horror, disbelief. When that wears off sometimes, people experience stronger feelings, sometimes anger, despair, sadness, anxiety or fear-based behaviour."  Ms Clements advised that connecting with friends, sporting clubs, or workplace networks, and simply asking ‘are you OK?’, can play a key role in supporting people experiencing distress. "This event will disrupt the nervous system. One of the most important things we can do is stay connected, talk to each other and lean into supportive conversations,” Ms Clements said. She suggested starting a genuine conversation by asking questions such as: 'it's been tough watching this information coming to light, how are you feeling about it?’ “Then, all you’ve got to do is listen with empathy, without judgment or interruption, and just allow someone to talk about their experience and how they are feeling. When it is the right time in the conversation, you can then gently guide someone towards supportive actions, like doing some gentle exercise, staying connected with friends and family, or maintaining regular routines.” Ms Clements emphasised the importance of checking in again to ensure people have continued support. If you notice someone’s distress is ongoing for several weeks and begins to affect their work or social life, professional help should be encouraged. If you or the children in your care are experiencing ongoing distress, consider speaking with a doctor or another trusted healthcare provider. Free and professional 24/7counselling services are available, find contact details here . If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000. Ask R U OK? Any Day.

2025 with R U OK?

11 December 2025
This year, Australians continued to grow their confidence and capability to ask, 'are you OK?' any day of the year - reminding us how real connection and meaningful conversations can happen in the most ordinary, everyday moments. Across every age and stage of life, people helped normalise these important check-ins by looking out for one another, reducing stigma, and driving genuine change. Thanks to our supporters, awareness continues to expand in schools, workplaces, sporting clubs, and communities in every corner of Australia. Thank you to everyone who started conversations, and to everyone who supported the mission and work of R U OK?. Below is a short video which shares a glimpse of the activity made possible through collaboration. *Voice-over by former-CEO, Katherine Newton.

Connecting generations through conversation and storytelling

10 December 2025
From growing up on farms to a shared interest in history, Australians, young and old, are discovering just how much they have in common, and how storytelling can connect generations in unexpected ways. What’s bringing them together is 'Heart and Soul Story', a social enterprise that fosters intergenerational connections. Through its programs, young people and older generations come together in aged care homes and schools to share stories, build life skills, and prevent loneliness. At a recent session which encouraged everyone to Ask R U OK? Any Day, students visited an aged-care community with R U OK? Conversation Bingo cards, which feature prompts to spark humour, curiosity, and connection.
Show More