More Australians die from suicide than road deaths every year. Lifeline estimates that for each person who completes suicide at least 30 people have attempted suicide, and a further 2000 people a day think about ending their life. Predicting with certainty who will attempt suicide is difficult. What we know is that those who attempt suicide are more likely to have a pre-existing mental health problem than not. Organisations such as Beyond Blue, R U Ok, and Lifeline outline suicide prevention strategies that revolve around talking about suicide with the person you are worried about. However little empirical research has focused on how suicide is actually talked about between clinicians and clients, those bereaved by suicide, or in online spaces. There are suggestions for what to ask but little guidance on how to ask about what are delicate matters. The aim of this project is to explore how suicide talk is constituted. Depending on the student’s interest this may be between clinicians and clients or in online suicide support forums.

Professor Andrea Lamont-Mills

• Dr Carol du Plessis
• Dr Raquel Peel

• Centre for Health Sciences Research
• School of Psychology and Wellbeing

• Clinical Sciences
• Other Medical and Health Sciences
• Public Health and Health Services

• Doctor of Philosophy (DPHD)