Significant legislative, social and political changes have improved human rights for LGBTIQA+SB people and communities across Australia. While the law no longer criminalises LGBTIQA+SB relationships, our communities continue to experience structural violence that stems from a culture that still privileges heterosexual relationships and perpetuates cisgenderism. 

Experiences of adversity can be compounded for people from LGBTIQA+SB communities who face additional systemic forms of harm. This can include Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, People of Colour, refugees and people seeking asylum, trans and gender diverse people, people living with HIV, people born with intersex variations, people who are neurodivergent, people with experiences of disability, people living with mental ill-health, and those who have lived experiences of suicide.  

LGBTIQA+SB people, our loved ones, families and communities continue to be subject to stigma, discrimination, and vilification. These harms have profound effects and are directly linked with high rates of suicidal distress. 

Increasingly, LGBTIQA+SB people and communities are being used as political leverage across the world. In particular, trans and gender diverse identities are weaponised by adversarial political parties, news media outlets and internationally funded organisations with dire consequences on the wellbeing and health of trans and gender diverse people.  

Despite our experiences, LGBTIQA+SB communities are not passive victims of oppression. We are a strong and courageous community.  

LGBTIQA+SB communities are almost 20x more likely to consider attempting suicide compared to the general population.

In the context of LGBTIQA+SB human rights and community wellbeing, suicide is understood in relation to systems excluding, disempowering and failing to affirm LGBTIQA+SB identities, relationships, bodies and intersectional experiences. 

Many LGBTIQA+SB people do not seek support when in crisis because of anticipated discrimination, previous experiences of discrimination, and lack of information about LGBTIQA+SB specific services. 

Our suicide prevention and health care systems structurally invisiblise LGBTIQA+SB lived experiences, community responses and lives. This means that often the voices and expertise of our communities are not included in the design and implementation of the care that we receive. 

Data is not accurately or consistently collected on LGBTIQA+SB deaths by suicide across the globe and is not reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This erasure of LGBTIQA+SB suicide by our systems upholds a circumstance where the lack of data has been used to justify the lack of investment in LGBTIQA+SB suicide prevention.  

Research done into suicide prevention and lived experience is rarely done in partnership with LGBTIQA+SB community-led organisations. LGBTIQA+SB people are included in lived experience and suicide prevention research, programs and strategies as an ‘add-on’, instead of being deeply involved from the beginning. 

Services led by our communities, such as our national LGBTIQA+SB helpline, are underfunded and seldom included in resources lists, for example, in media reports about mental health and suicide. 

It is not plausible to maintain that our world-leading mental health and coronial systems cannot implement change on this front.   

LGBTIQA+SB people connect our wellbeing to LGBTIQA+SB affirming relationships, friendships, environments, histories, cultures, institutions, and services.  

LGBTIQA+ people want suicide prevention services where they feel safe to be themselves, comfortable to discuss their gender and sexuality, and are free from judgement. These characteristics are often found in peer-led services, and rarely found in mainstream services. 

LGBTIQA+SB people are more likely to seek support from services when lived experience expertise is embedded across service structures and are accredited as LGBTIQA+SB inclusive. 

Improving the capacity of suicide prevention services to provide safe and affirming care to LGBTIQA+SB people must include: better data on LGBTIQA+SB communities and suicide; access to positive information / representations of LGBTIQA+SB people and community leaders; and awareness campaigns and resources that improve the ability of policy makers, service providers, and community members to respond appropriately and effectively to LGBTIQA+SB suicidal distress.