- Isolation and loneliness surpass housing affordability as suicide risk for the first time in two years
- Peak body urges more action as a quarter of young Australians aged 18-24 have experienced suicidal behaviour in the last 12 months and 44% of Australians aged 18-24 have reached out to a suicide prevention service
The impact of suicide is extending across Australia with new data revealing nearly three in ten Australians know someone, either directly or indirectly, who has died by or attempted suicide in the past year.
As the government’s economic policies continue to take effect, we are beginning to see a shift in attitudes around financial stress. Now, potentially as a result of this government action, distress linked to economic factors – cost-of-living and personal debt, housing affordability, and unemployment and job security – is gradually declining.
Results from Suicide Prevention Australia’s Community Tracker reveal that family and relationship breakdowns, and social isolation and loneliness are taking the place of economic factors as the leading concerns for Australians. These factors now rank respectively as the second (27%) and third (24%) largest causes of distress with social isolation and loneliness overtaking housing affordability for the first time in two years. Notably, young Australians aged 18-24 years are feeling this more severely, with one in three reporting increased isolation and loneliness – a significant gap of around 10 percentage points compared to older generations aged 50 years +.
While cost-of-living and personal debt remain the leading stressor for all Australians (45%), it is reassuringly down 5 percentage points from its peak in February 2024.
Acting CEO of Suicide Prevention Australia, Christopher Stone said that it’s pleasing to see some softening of economic pressures due to recent government policies, which seems to be reducing financially motivated stress around cost-of-living and personal debt, housing affordability and unemployment and job security. However, the findings highlight the interconnected nature of distress, with one crisis often triggering or contributing to another.
“We must not become complacent. We need to now shift focus to the rising social stressors, addressing them through urgent funding and implementation of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
“For years, cost-of-living has been front and centre in discussions about distress in the community. But this data shows that as financial pressures slightly ease, another crisis is emerging — loneliness and isolation.
“However, we can’t afford to look at distress in silos. It’s not just about cost-of-living pressures or social isolation – it’s about how they interact and compound on each other.
“Although suicide is a complex human behaviour with many risk factors, research demonstrates clear linkages between experiences of loneliness and suicide. For men in particular, the risk of suicide decreases with increasing social integration” said Mr. Stone.
Around one in seven Australians have experienced suicidal behaviour in the past year — rising to one in four among young people aged 18 to 24. Encouragingly, 44% of young Australians aged 18-24 years have reached out to suicide prevention services in the past 12 months — a 17 percentage point increase since February.
Despite over a third of all young Australians aged 18-24 years experiencing heightened distress from loneliness and social isolation, many are reaching out for connection. Help-seeking through community services like peer networks, counselling, support groups, and safe spaces has had its highest year on record, rising 15 percentage points year on year.
“The increase in help-seeking behaviour is promising and highlights the importance of community and peer networks in supporting young Australians.
“This behaviour needs to be encouraged, and these networks further developed through support and funding for key services such as safe spaces which provide timely, prevention focused help. However, to date, the National Suicide Prevention Strategy which calls for an increase in community-based services under the key objective of social inclusion remains unfunded and unactioned,” said Mr Stone.
“Even more concerningly, the country’s only Suicide Prevention Research Fund has been defunded by the Labor Government. This Fund has been instrumental in shaping evidence-based policies, interventions, and community support programs that directly reduce suicide risk.
“When coupling our findings with the latest data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, we can see that distress remains high. New South Wales recorded the most deaths by suspected suicide in the first quarter of this year than any other year since records began, while Victoria follows closely behind having already surpassed comparative numbers for 2022 and 2023.
“We’re happy to see financial, housing, and employment distress start to decline and we’re hopeful this will continue as interest rates are cut, HECS debt is eased, and other economic support systems come into effect.
“But if we only focus only on one issue like cost-of-living, we miss the bigger picture. Suicide and the factors behind it are complex and nuanced, but with the right action we can address it before reaching crisis point. We have the strategies ready to go, but without funding and implementation from the government, the National Suicide Prevention Strategy remains words on paper.
“A strategy without action can’t save lives. Every Australian should have equitable access to the support they need, when and where they need it.
“These aren’t just numbers, these are real people, grieving families, and communities crying out for help. The government has proven it knows what’s needed to make a change and now it’s time to make it happen.
“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,” said Mr Stone.
ENDS
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY TRACKER:
The Suicide Prevention Australia Community Tracker is a quarterly 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. Total sample size was 1,008 Australians aged 18 years and older. Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th – 15th May 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all Australian adults (aged 18+).
Following the completion of interviewing, the data was weighted by age, gender and region to reflect the latest ABS population estimates. Respondents that participated in the survey in February 2025 were excluded from this sample.
To get help 24/7, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, phone 000 for emergency services.
Help to report about suicide safely is available online: Go to https://mindframe.org.au/
Media enquiries:
Amelia Hew 0410 591 134 ameliah@suicidepreventionaust.org
Alex Pursehouse 0423 196 136 or alexp@suicidepreventionaust.org
About Suicide Prevention Australia
Suicide Prevention Australia is the national peak body and we’ve been providing support for Australia’s suicide prevention sector for more than 30 years. We support and advocate for our members to drive continual improvement in suicide prevention policy, programs and services. Our reach is broad, including member organisations, governments, businesses, researchers, practitioners and those with lived experience. We are focused on an integrated approach to suicide prevention encompassing mental health, social, economic and community factors. We believe that through collaborative effort and shared purpose, we can achieve our vision of a world without suicide.
