National Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025-2035

The National Suicide Prevention Strategy is the first major deliverable for the National Suicide Prevention Office. It brings together first-hand evidence provided by people with lived and living experience of suicide and suicidality, the latest research, and recommendations from existing inquiries and reports.

The Strategy provides an outline of what needs to be done to prevent suicidal distress, suicide attempts and suicide deaths. Preventing suicide requires a comprehensive, coordinated approach to addressing the many factors that contribute to people dying by suicide.

The Strategy is organised into three domains:

• Prevention of suicidal distress describes what is required to reduce the likelihood of suicidal distress arising. This involves strengthening the wellbeing of communities and better supporting those who are struggling with factors we know can lead to suicidal distress.
• Support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours and those who care for them describes the elements required for an effective support system. To provide high-quality support, these components must operate in each part of the support system and across the system as a whole.
• Critical enablers are the administrative and structural elements that must be present to achieve the objectives across the Strategy.

The National Suicide Prevention Office will undertake regular monitoring of implementation of the Strategy to track progress and inform planning.

Download a copy of the Strategy here

How does the Strategy aim to improve suicide prevention in the Defence and veteran ecosystem?

Life transitions are an important focus for suicide prevention.

Transitions can bring about increased loneliness, financial distress or instability, and sometimes trauma. A comprehensive approach to suicide prevention includes equipping people with the skills and wellbeing to navigate the challenges of life transitions, and providing support when life transitions occur.

This is particularly relevant to serving and ex-serving ADF members, due to the significant life changes that occur when leaving the ADF. In order to improve suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for those who have left or are leaving the ADF, the Strategy recommends the implementation of the Government’s response to the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

Personal support networks, including families, carers, kin, friends and colleagues, are critically important to people who experience suicidal thoughts and behaviours. The Strategy also acknowledges that families, carers and kin often provide informal care following a suicide attempt, and this has been found to contribute to higher levels of distress for those providing support. 

The Strategy proposes further strengthening support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours, as well as their families, carers and kin. This includes connecting families, carers and kin with information and supports for their own wellbeing.