24 November 2025 Sunflower memorial in Canberra brings hope to those affected by suicide - 24 November 2025 Leading suicide prevention advocates, community members and families impacted by suicide will gather on Monday 24 November, from 6.00pm–7.00pm at Old Parliament House – Members' Dining Room 1, for the ACT Wesley LifeForce Suicide Memorial Service. The annual event provides a space for Territorians to honour loved ones lost to suicide, reflect on their grief and connect with others who share similar experiences. The service will feature music, readings and stories from two lived-experience speakers, alongside a message of hope from Wesley Mission CEO, Rev Stu Cameron. The memorial comes at a significant time for the ACT. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the territory records an average of 17 ambulance attendances each month for suicidal ideation and 10 attendances for suicide attempts. Preliminary national data shows the ACT recorded 7.7 suicide deaths per 100,000 people in 2023, with rising cost-of-living pressures, rental stress and healthcare affordability continuing to affect community wellbeing. Rev Cameron says many Territorians carry the silent weight of losing someone they deeply love to suicide.
"Grief takes time and courage and no one in our ACT community needs to walk that journey alone. When we come together, we honour those we have lost and strengthen the hope that keeps us moving forward." Wesley LifeForce delivers free suicide-prevention training nationally, including across the ACT, to equip communities with practical skills to recognise the signs of distress and support someone who may be at risk. As part of the memorial service, attendees are encouraged to bring a photo or personal item for the memorial wall, where they can leave a message of love and remembrance. The event will conclude with a symbolic sunflower tribute, where everyone is invited to place a sunflower at the memorial wall. Sunflowers have long represented hope, strength and resilience - with their vibrant yellow petals and strong stems turning steadfastly toward the sun. Event details Wesley LifeForce Suicide Memorial Service ACT
Monday 24 November 2025
Old Parliament House – Members' Dining Room 1, 6.00pm – 7.00pm
18 King George Terrace, Canberra
