Suicide prevention for boys and men

Boys and men are three times as likely to die by suicide in Australia than girls and women. Suicide is the leading cause of death in Australian males aged 15-49.

Seventy-five per cent of all suicides in Australia are by boys and men, says Professor Jane Pirkis from the University of Melbourne. Jane is leading a team from five universities called the Buoy Project which is funded by $5.6 million from the Medical Research Future Fund. The Buoy Project is testing seven different suicide prevention programs that target boys and men. The aim is to find out which programs might be most effective in reducing male suicide.

Jane’s research indicates that the reason that more boys and men suicide could be because fewer males reach out when they are not travelling so well.

Some men might still be alive today if they had felt able to speak to someone about how they were feeling.

Doctors at Stirling Central Health Clinic are here to help if you wish to discuss your feelings. To make an appointment, please click here