- The Queensland Mental Health Commission has today released the Suicide in Queensland Annual Report 2024.
- The release coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day, which this year carries the theme 'Changing the Narrative on Suicide'.
- The report provides the most comprehensive picture of suspected suicides in Queensland, drawing on data from the Queensland Suicide Register (QSR) and interim Queensland Suicide Register (iQSR).
- Key findings show that in 2024, 769 people lost their lives to suspected suicide in Queensland-a decrease from the peak of 816 in 2021.
The Suicide in Queensland Annual Report 2024 highlights the importance of accurate and timely data to inform prevention efforts.
The report details the scale, circumstances and risk factors associated with suicide, while emphasising that behind every statistic is a life lived, and a life lost too soon.
The release follows the Commission's World Suicide Prevention Day event, which brought together people with lived experience, service providers, researchers, and peak body representatives to strengthen collaboration and prevention action.
This year's theme 'Changing the Narrative on Suicide' calls for a shift away from stigma, silence and misunderstanding, towards openness, empathy and inclusion.
Central to this is ensuring that lived experience continues to shape how Queensland responds to suicide.
Key data from the report includes:
- 769 suspected suicides were recorded in 2024 - a rate of around 14 per 100,000 Queenslanders.
- 78.3% of deaths were male, with the rate among men 3.7 times higher than women.
- 61 First Nations people lost their lives, representing almost 8% of all deaths, with disproportionate impact among those aged 25-34.
The Suicide in Queensland Annual Report 2024 is available at www.qmhc.qld.gov.au.
The Commission assumed custodianship of the QSR and the iQSR in 2023 and has since introduced reforms to strengthen transparency and utility of suicide data.
These include monthly public data reporting, new data models, and the introduction of geospatial mapping to identify suicide clusters and support place-based prevention.
As stated by Queensland Mental Health Commissioner, Ivan Frkovic:
"The release of the Suicide in Queensland Annual Report on World Suicide Prevention Day is an important reminder that every life lost to suicide is one too many.
"Each number in this report represents a life-a person loved, valued and missed.
"Suicide prevention is not the work of one agency, one sector or one individual. It is a shared responsibility.
"It's encouraging to see a slight decline in suicide numbers, but we know the impact on families, friends and communities remains profound.
"But it also tells us that we must continue to invest in prevention, strengthen community-led responses, and ensure lived experience voices are at the centre of reform.
"The Suicide in Queensland Annual Report is one of the most important contributions we can make to suicide prevention in Queensland, because it strengthens the evidence base and supports more effective action.
"Our goal is a Queensland where everyone feels supported, safe, and connected-because suicide is preventable."
