In November 2022, ACON launched a suicide prevention digital hub for LGBTQ+ people – HERE.org.au – as part of the Towards Zero Suicides community response funding for priority populations from the NSW Ministry of Health. This poster presentation for The National Suicide Prevention Conference 2024 will promote its award-winning design features and impact.
The aim of HERE.org.au is to reduce the number of people who die by suicide and decrease the number of individuals who attempt suicide or experience suicidal crisis in NSW. The hub empowers LGBTQ+ communities to hold safe conversations about suicide and suicidal behaviour, and know how and where to seek help when needed.
HERE.org.au offers a lived experience intersectional approach, that includes resources and links to services for LGBTQ+ people and communities, including LGBTQ+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, trans communities, LGBTQ+ people from culturally, linguistically and ethnically diverse, migrant, and refugee backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people of colour, and LGBTQ+ people living with a disability or long-term health conditions.
For LGBTQ+ people in Australia we know that 1 in 3 will have attempted suicide in their lifetime – which is a much higher rate than the general population. LGBTQ+ people report living with suicidal thoughts and feelings at even higher rates, and risk factors can often increase with other intersecting experiences of marginalisation and discrimination (Rodgers, S., Shehata, S., Murray, J., and Cook, T. (2022). Informing the direction of ACON’s online suicide prevention hub: a review [Report]. Gadigal, Sydney, Australia: ACON.).
This hub promotes how incredibly resilient LGBTQ+ communities are, and highlights the need to talk about suicide in ways that reduce the stigma and isolation that some people experience. The hub also aims to increase awareness across the sector about the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusiveness and affirming practice, and training options available to mainstream suicide prevention services.
HERE.org.au was developed through an extensive scoping and literature review and in co-design with ACON’s Rainbow Mental Health Lived Experience Network, and continued consultation with community members of diverse sexualities and/or genders who have lived experience of suicide and mental health distress for quality improvement. This co-design process assisted in the creation of the content of the website, the illustrations, colour palette, accessibility and navigation features.
Google analytics data from launch November 2022 to November 2023 includes: