Suicide Prevention Australia Symposium 2021

The Suicide Prevention Australia Symposium 2021 presents a unique opportunity to bring the brightest minds together with the latest thinking to promote excellence in suicide prevention. This online event provides a gateway to unite suicide prevention experts to showcase evidence-based solutions and robust discussion, focused on solutions for saving lives.

Given the challenges and uncertainly posed by COVID19, our annual National Suicide Prevention Conference will be replaced by the symposium in 2021. The theme, ‘Gateway to Excellence’, is aligned with our commitment to enhance best practice. Striving for excellence in suicide prevention is imperative for delivering safe, high quality and consistent standards of care.

Held on 19-22 April 2021, this online symposium will attract around 500 delegates to hear from international keynote speakers, participate in workshops and collaborate with their peers.

The symposium will focus on the themes of:

• Stigma, mental ill-health and suicide;
• Psychological and social risk factors;
• Postvention and exposure to suicide; and
• Support and care to vulnerable population groups.

As the national peak body for suicide prevention, Suicide Prevention Australia promotes quality improvement to build sector capability and allocates millions of dollars for research. We are dedicated to identifying and responding to gaps in knowledge, policy and practice.

Incorporating people with lived experience is central to everything we do at Suicide Prevention Australia and their voice is an important part of the symposium. A lived experience of suicide can range from suicidal thoughts, surviving a suicide attempt, caring for someone through crisis, being bereaved by suicide or being touched by suicide in any way.

Tragically, around 800 000 people die due to suicide every year. We can never underestimate the impact that every life lost to suicide has on family, friends, workplaces and the broader community. The Suicide Prevention Australia Symposium 2021 presents a critical gateway to help support best practice suicide prevention solutions that will save lives.