#'s Don't Save Lives

#SuicidePreventionDay is a hashtag that every Tom, Dick and Harry will toss around and use over the following week. And when that’s over, they’ll use #RUOK, or #WorldMentalHealthDay.
People will use it, and they’ll decorate their facebook and Instagram and twitter accounts with it, and they’ll probably see themselves as really forward and progressive and really sparking a change.
But, a hashtag doesn’t stop the 65,300 people in Australia that attempt to commit suicide each year.

A hashtag doesn’t stop the eight people in Australia that will die by suicide every single day.
A hashtag doesn’t stop suicide being the leading cause of death in people between the ages of 15-44.
A hashtag doesn’t spark change….
People do. Conversations do.

Because when it comes down to it, when it comes to taking action that isn’t touching a few clicks of your phone button… How many people will actually speak up?
How many people will actually say something?
How many people will take action?

Mental health is one of the most tabboo, unspoken, intimidating topics in our society… And yet, it’s something that each and every one of us have.
We all have mental health, just like we all have physical health. The difference being if you don’t go to a doctor to seek help when you break your leg, you’re seen as crazy.
And if you do go to a doctor to seek help if you’re struggling in your mind, you’re seen as, well, crazy.

We all have mental health. We all have periods of time where our mental health isn’t at its peak, and that’s okay.
That’s okay, and who you are and who you identify as does not change your ability or unworthiness to seek help
Men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women.
The suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is more than double the national rate, with 5.2% of deaths from these communities being from suicide.
People in the LBGTQ+ community are more than five times more likely to die by suicide .

Speak up. Spark a conversation. Check in on your mates.

Suicide is the leading cause of death in people between the ages of 15-44.
It’s time we make a change to that… And a hashtag isn’t going to do that

AUSTRALIAN HELPLINES:
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
Lifeline: 13 11 14

VIDEO ON MENTAL HEALTH: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf6qRjlc9nE&t=204s

VIDEO ON SADNESS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gytZ7Uqz01M