Suicide prevention grants focus on at-risk groups

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Federal Member for Banks, David Coleman, has announced details.

Through the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program Grant Opportunity, $114 million will be available for national projects that will raise awareness of the impact of suicide and support Australians who are at risk.

This includes $64.5 million for suicide prevention support for at risk populations and communities including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, men, LGBTIQA+ people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, regional, rural and remote communities, veterans, and young people.

"We're particularly interested to see applications that focus on populations and communities that are disproportionately impacted by suicide, such as men and boys and people in regional, rural and remote Australia," Mr Coleman said.

"We know that men are three times more likely than women to take their life, but less likely to access mental health support. We also know that people in rural, regional and remote Australia have a much higher rate of suicide than people in metropolitan Australia.

"We also encourage applications for programs that will reach other at risk populations, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who die by suicide at more than double the national rate, and our LGBTIQA+ community who has the highest rates of both suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts in Australia.

"The support that will be provided through the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program will be vitally important in helping to reduce the number of people we lose to suicide each year."

The National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program is now open.

Applications will close on 28 January 2022.

For more information and to view the Grant Opportunity Guidelines visit: www.grants.gov.au

Anyone experiencing distress can seek immediate advice and support through Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636), or the Government's digital mental health gateway, Head to Health, www.headtohealth.gov.au

Young Australians needing support can access free services through Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), their local headspace or online through headspace: headspace.org.au/eheadspace/