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- Elevated distress dropped by 4 percentage points compared to last year, yet 73% of Australians continue to report heightened distress, reinforcing that distress remains widespread
- While cost-of-living remains the most common stressor, bullying and harassment, job insecurity, and housing affordability are driving the highest levels of acute distress, reinforcing the need for a whole-of-government approach
- Over 1 in 3 (36%) Australians turn to family or friends for support, yet less than a quarter (22%) of Australians feel well prepared to help someone in distress
New data from Suicide Prevention Australia’s latest National Community Tracker shows early, encouraging signs that distress levels across the country may be easing, while also revealing a critical gap in community confidence to support others.
Released ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September), the Community Tracker found elevated distress has fallen by 4 percentage points since the same time last year. However, overall distress remains widespread, with almost three in four (73%) Australians still experiencing higher distress than this time last year.
Cost-of-living pressures remain the most common source of elevated distress, affecting 42% of Australians. However, the issues associated with the most severe distress include bullying and harassment (67%), unemployment and job security (64%), and housing access and affordability (63%).
Suicide Prevention Australia CEO, Nieves Murray, said the findings show both the importance of continuing to address the causes of distress and the need to equip Australians to support one another.
“What stands out is how much Australians are already relying on each other. One in three Australians have spoken to a friend or family member to support their wellbeing.
“But while Australians are reaching out to people they trust, many don’t feel confident about what to do when someone is experiencing serious distress or suicidal thoughts. Less than a quarter feel very or extremely prepared to help.
“This is a gap we can do something about. We need to make sure Australians have the skills and confidence to recognise when someone is struggling, ask the right questions, listen without judgement and help connect them with support.
“There are a number of evidence-based short training courses that enable any Australian to respond to the risk of suicide, but they need resources to run and so are not free. Government has an important role to play in making these skills available to communities through ensuring free access to community-based training and public education.
“But this is not something government can do alone. We all have a role to play in looking out for the people around us, starting conversations early and helping each other connect with support before distress reaches crisis point,” said Ms Murray.
The data shows Australians are already taking steps to protect their own wellbeing. Three in four (75%) took at least one wellbeing action in the past year, including exercise, mindfulness and speaking with a loved one.
Formal support is also being accessed by many Australians, with 33% accessing digital, clinical, phone or community services over the past year. This rises to 59% among those who have experienced suicidal behaviour.
However, among people who experienced distress but did not seek support, the biggest barriers were personal rather than structural. More than two in five (42%) said they were trying to manage it themselves, while 39% felt their distress was not serious enough and 25% felt ashamed or did not want others to know.
Ms Murray said these findings reinforce the need to make early help-seeking a normal part of looking after wellbeing, and community education is a core part of achieving this.
“We need to challenge the idea that distress has to reach a breaking point before someone deserves support.
“There is no minimum threshold for asking for help. Whether someone is struggling with cost-of-living pressures, housing, work, relationships or something else, early support can make a difference.
“And we all have a role to play. If we can give more Australians the confidence to notice when someone is struggling and have a conversation early, we can help people access support before distress escalates.
“This is where the government support is critical. The training resources and knowledge already exist, but we need increased and sustained funding to scale these programs so more communities can access them.
“At the same time, every Australian can play a part by learning how to recognise distress, having conversations early and helping connect people to the support they need. Everyone should know the supports available, 13 11 14 – the number for Lifeline – should be as familiar to us as 000,” Ms Murray said.
Suicide prevention peer worker and advocate Mark Davis says lived experience can transform how people understand distress and the importance of early support, but education shouldn’t require a crisis.
“When someone you care about tells you they are thinking about taking their life, it’s natural to feel lost and not know what to say or do. Without understanding, we might minimise what they are experiencing or offer words like ‘all will be right’, expecting them to feel comforted. Equally, we can panic or overreact.
“Perhaps the best thing we can do is sit quietly with them, listen, take them seriously and let them know they’ve done the right thing by reaching out. Then we can encourage them to seek the professional support they need. Learning what to do in these situations isn’t difficult or complicated, but it could be lifesaving,” said Mr Davis.
Ms Murray said building a community that is confident to respond to distress is a shared responsibility.
“People with lived experience are central to everything we do in suicide prevention, bringing invaluable understanding and compassion. But we cannot rely on crisis to be the teacher.
“Government must provide the investment needed to build community capability at scale. And as a community, we need to use that capability by looking out for one another, starting conversations and making support-seeking a part of everyday life.
“Together, we can build a community where people feel confident to ask the right questions, offer support and help connect someone to the services they need,” said Ms Murray.
Suicide Prevention Australia is calling for sustained investment in community education and training alongside implementation of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy and clear, sector-informed action through the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
If you or someone you know requires support, please reach out. Help is available and it can make a difference.
Phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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About the Community Tracker
The Suicide Prevention Australia Community Tracker is a regular survey that sheds light on the prevalence of suicidal behaviours, what social and economic issues are driving elevated distress, and the impact of suicide in our community. It is designed to provide real-time, community-wide insights to policy makers, practitioners, and the community and to support suicide prevention activities across Australia.
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Australia. The total sample size was 1,405 adults. The survey was conducted online between 16 July – 28 July 2026. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Australian adults (aged 18+). Respondents that participated in the survey in March 2026 were excluded from this sample.
Help to report about suicide safely is available online:
Go to: https://mindframe.org.au/
Media enquiries:
Alexandra Pursehouse, Acting Director of Advocacy: 0423 196 136 or alexp@suicidepreventionaust.org
About Suicide Prevention Australia
Suicide Prevention Australia is the national peak body for the suicide prevention sector. We exist to provide a clear, collective voice for suicide prevention, so that together we can save lives. We support and advocate for more than 320 members ranging from national household name agencies to small community-based organisations and local collaboratives in every State and Territory; as well as individual service providers, practitioners, researchers, students and people with lived experience. This represents more than 140,000 staff and volunteers across Australia. We aim to drive continual improvement in suicide prevention policy, programs and services. We believe that through collaboration and shared purpose, we can work towards our ambition of a world without suicide.
