Suicide prevention

A decade of community-led suicide prevention

“For the past decade, grassroots suicide prevention and suicide response projects have transformed the lives, homes, workplaces and communities of people throughout northern Queensland.”

Communities throughout Australia — from sporting clubs to community groups — run suicide prevention activities, but few are formalised under plans.

Suicide prevention community action plans (SPCAPs) exist to strengthen community connection and prioritise early intervention through deliberate, collaborative plans. Their work scaffolds healthcare intervention and aftercare services connected to the Joint Regional Wellbeing Plan (JRWP), with prevention as well as postvention — that is, supporting people who have been bereaved by suicide.

SPCAPs in northern Queensland

The plans reflect the evolving needs of communities. They are highly collaborative and intentionally flexible, guided by evidence. Over the past decade, grassroots initiatives focused on suicide prevention and response have significantly impacted the lives, homes, workplaces, and communities across northern Queensland. This collection recognises the often unseen, volunteer-led efforts that have helped many individuals during this period.

Find your local SPCAP

Torres and Cape

Cairns District

Townsville District

Mackay District

In June 2026, the National Suicide Prevention Strategy and outcomes framework were released. The outcomes are designed to be person-centred and include what is important to people who have lived through suicidal distress, cared for a person experiencing suicidal distress, and those who have lost loved ones to suicide. Building off LifeSpan, the framework is strongly rooted in lived experience.

The SPCAPs have realigned their priorities and reporting to this new national framework. It takes a systems approach and shares other principles with LifeSpan. However, by reflecting the national framework, the community efforts within each SPCAP can be better measured and recognised.

A list of mental health and suicide prevention support services are listed in the drop down table below. Please note, NQPHN and the SPCAP lead agencies are not crisis or emergency services. For urgent support, call any of the numbers listed in the table below. If you need immediate help or are at risk of harm to yourself or others, call 000.

Support services

Service	Description	Contact details	Website
13 YARN	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support line. Available 24/7. No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn.	13 92 76	www.13yarn.org.au
1800 RESPECT	Free, 24/7 support for people impacted by domestic, family, or sexual violence.	1800 732 732	www.1800respect.org.au
Beyond Blue	24/7 support programs to address issues related to depression, suicide, anxiety disorders, and other related mental illnesses.	1300 224 636	www.beyondblue.org.au
Head to Health	Local general mental health advice and support. You can make a free call to Head to Health between 8.30 am–5 pm weekdays (except public holidays).	1800 595 212	www.headtohealth.gov.au
Lifeline Australia	Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention.	13 11 14	www.lifeline.org.au
StandBy Support After Suicide Service	24-hour community-based, suicide postvention program for people bereaved by suicide.	1300 727 247	www.standbysupport.com.au
Suicide Call Back Service	Free counselling for suicide prevention & mental health via telephone, online & video for anyone affected by suicidal thoughts, 24/7.	1300 659 467	www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
QLife	LGBTI peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings, or relationships.	1800 184 527	www.qlife.org.au