Site Navigation

Media kit

The Lifeline National media kit is available to download. It contains organisational background information, facts, FAQ and media contact details.

The contents of this media kit, including statistics were correct at 2011 and may be updated from time-to-time.

Fast facts

  • Lifeline receives over one million contacts each year from help-seekers, via mediums such
    as telephone, web and face-to-face
  • Lifeline’s 24 hour crisis support line (13 11 14)  offers a confidential, non-judgemental service offered
    by trained telephone crisis support volunteers
  • Somewhere in Australia there is a new call to Lifeline every 50 seconds
  • Lifeline answers around 1400 call a day in Australia
  • People who call Lifeline’s 24 hour crisis support line call for a range of reasons including
    but not limited to; family and relationship concerns, crisis support, suicide prevention,
    matters relating to abuse and violence, support and information about drug and alcohol use
    and loneliness
  • Lifeline receives more than 50 calls a day from people at high risk of suicide
  • Lifeline also offers an online Crisis Support Chat Service between 8pm-midnight which has over
    60 contacts per day
  • 72% of online crisis chat contacts are under the age of 25 and 57% are from rural and
    remote locations
  • Lifeline is involved in all aspects of suicide prevention across a spectrum of care including
    early intervention, continuing care and bereavement support
  • Lifeline provides access to a range of services - suicide prevention support, self help
    resources and mental health information, as well as a variety of programs specific to the
    needs of local communities
  • Lifeline relies on funding from the community through donations, fundraising and corporate
    partnerships
  • Approx 80% of Centre operating costs are funded by revenue raised from Lifeline’s retail,
    book fairs and fundraising activities
  • Lifeline receives some government funding at both the national and state level, which goes
    towards specific programs and services
  • Lifeline has over 260 retail outlets around the country which sell a variety of clothes,
    furniture and bric-a-brac. Some Lifeline Centres have a number of stores but not all Lifeline
    Centres have retail outlets
  • Lifeline operates a free call donation line 1800 800 768, however people can donate
    securely online
  • Lifeline is always in need of volunteers to work in telephone crisis support, in retail
    operations or to assist with fundraising efforts
  • Lifeline has over 11,000 dedicated volunteers who donate their time and skills to the
    organisation and to assist others. Around half of these volunteers work as telephone crisis
    support volunteers
  • Lifeline runs a National fundraising campaign – Stress Down Day around the end of July.
    The campaign is on 27 July in 2012 and encourages Australians reduce stress and have
    fun in return for a financial donation to Lifeline: for more information
    www.stressdown.org.au

Statistics on Suicide in Australia

Suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15-44. Suicide accounts for more than one in five deaths of younger Australians: for males between 15-34 years of age, and for females between 15-24 years of age.

Deaths by suicide

  • The most recent Australian data (ABS, Causes of Death, 2011) reports deaths due to suicide at 2,273.
  • The overall suicide rate in 2011 was 9.9 per 100,000, compared to the 2010 preliminary rate of 10.5 and 2001 rate of 12.6.
  • The highest suicide rates in the world are 34.3 in the Russian Federation in 2004 and 27.7 in Hungry in 2003*
  • Men account for four out of every five deaths by suicide.
  • Indigenous people are two and a half times more likely to die by suicide than non-indigenous people.
  • The most recent data (ABS, Causes of Death, 2011) shows that more people die from suicide in Australia than in road related transport deaths (1,386 vs  2,273).
  • The most recent data (ABS, Causes of Death, 2011) shows that more people die from suicide in Australia than from skin cancer (2,087). 

Suicide attempts

  • For every completed suicide it is estimated that as many as 30 people attempt.
  • That’s 180 attempts per day.
  • That’s more than one new attempt in Australia, every 10 minutes.

Thoughts of suicide (Suicidal ideation)

  • It is estimated that 249 people make a suicide plan everyday.
  • It is estimated that as many as 1014 people think about suicide every day.

*These are the only statistics available at the time of publishing.

Site Information