
20/08/2025
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Support our walk to prevent su***de and save lives.
Trigger warning:
Manus AI
Research in Australia has consistently shown that people with disabilities have a significantly higher risk of su***de compared to the general population.
Key Findings from Australian Studies:
• Elevated Su***de Rates: A report from the University of Sydney’s Centre for Disability Research and Policy, commissioned by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, found that the su***de rate among people with disabilities is double that of the general population.
• Disability Support Pension Recipients: An analysis of data from 2011-2014 revealed that individuals receiving the Disability Support Pension (DSP) had su***de rates that were six times higher for females and five times higher for males compared to the general population.
• Psychosocial Disabilities: The risk is particularly high for individuals with psychosocial disabilities (a term often used in Australia to describe disabilities that may arise from mental health conditions). This group experiences substantially higher rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
• Specific Conditions: People with certain conditions face even greater risks. For example, individuals with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and motor neuron disease have all been found to have a higher likelihood of su***de.
• Autism and Su***de: A 2024 report highlighted that autistic people in Australia are more than seven times more likely to die by su***de than the general population.
Contributing Factors in the Australian Context:
Several factors contribute to this increased risk in Australia:
• Systemic Issues: The Royal Commission highlighted systemic neglect, lack of support, and barriers to accessing services as major contributors to the distress experienced by people with disabilities.
• Social and Economic Disadvantage: People with disabilities in Australia often face higher rates of unemployment, poverty, and social exclusion, which are known risk factors for su***de.
• Healthcare Access: Difficulties in accessing appropriate and timely healthcare, including mental health support, can exacerbate feelings of hopelessness and despair.
Our team is walking in Out of the Shadows for Lifeline to ensure no one has to face their darkest moments alone.