New resources are now available to help you have one of life’s most important conversations about suicide.
Have you ever noticed someone you care about going quiet? Maybe they’ve stopped answering messages, pulled back from the group, or said something that made you pause and you weren’t quite sure what to do next?
Many of us have been in that moment. And many of us stay silent, not because we don’t care, but because we didn’t know what to say.
Here’s what the research tells us:
You don’t need the perfect words. You just need to reach out.
Let’s talk about suicide.
Life in Mind a national suicide prevention platform has updated its Conversations Matter guides, and they are worth having a look at. Maybe as a refresher or even to learn how to start the conversation.
The guides are designed for exactly those moments of uncertainty. They give you practical, plain-English tips and advice for starting a conversation with someone who might be struggling, whether that’s a friend, a family member, a colleague, or a neighbour.
This isn’t about having a clinical script or knowing all the answers. It’s about understanding that checking in, listening without judgment, and showing someone they matter to you can make a real difference. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can offer is simply your presence.
I never needed advice. I needed someone to tell me I mattered. To take me seriously and not dismiss my feelings. It’s okay to say you don’t know what to say. It’s the act of listening that matters most. It truly can change suicidal thinking to hope and getting through another day.
Megan, Lived Experience Advisor
The updated guides reflect the latest evidence on what actually helps and what to say when you genuinely don’t know what to say.
Why this matters for everyday life in Canberra
We talk a lot about mental health in this community, and that’s a good thing. But there’s often a gap between knowing someone might be struggling and actually saying something.
That gap isn’t a character flaw, it’s human. We worry about saying the wrong thing. We don’t want to make it worse. We tell ourselves they’re probably fine, or that someone else will step in.
The Conversations Matter resources help close that gap. They normalise the idea that conversations about suicide are something we can, and should, be able to have. Not just professionals. Not just crisis workers. Anyone.
That includes parents checking in on teenagers. It includes friends noticing a change in someone’s energy. It includes workmates who’ve seen a colleague struggling after a difficult few months. It includes carers supporting someone through illness, grief, or loss.
Everyday people facing everyday moments where a little guidance can go a long way.
What the guides cover
The updated Conversations Matter resources walk you through:
- How to start the conversation — including when and where it’s best to reach out
- What to say (and what not to say) — with real, usable language that feels natural rather than rehearsed
- How to listen well — because how you respond matters just as much as what you ask
- What to do next — connecting someone to support, following up, and looking after yourself too
The guides are free, accessible, and built for people navigating real life, not clinical settings.
Have thoughts? Life in Mind want to hear from you
Here’s something worth knowing: Life in Mind is actively seeking feedback on these resources right now.
If you work in community services, health, education, or any role where you’re supporting others or if you’re simply someone who has used these kinds of resources before, your input genuinely helps shape what gets built next.
Your feedback could mean that the next person who finds themselves in that uncertain moment could get help sooner.
Take a look
Head to Life in Mind: Conversations Matter to explore the updated guides and share your feedback.
You might find something useful for yourself. You might find something worth passing on to a colleague or community group. Either way, it costs nothing to look and it could mean everything to someone in your life.
Because conversations about the hard stuff don’t always start with perfect words. They only need to start.
Website: lifeinmind.org.au/conversationsmatter
Trying to find support for mental health in your area? Do you know about these services?
Canberra Medicare Mental Health Service – Tuggeranong and Canberra Civic website
Safe Haven ACT – Belconnen website
Find a Psychologist – Online Directory
You can also call:
- Access Mental Health 1800 629 354
- Mental Health Line (24 hours) 1800 011 511
- Lifeline (24 hours) 13 11 14
- Mens Helpline 1300 78 99 78
- Suicide Call Back Service (24 hours) 1300 659 467
