Media Release 14 May2025
Inaugural Wesley LifeForce Sunflower Ceremony in Perth brings hope to those affected by suicide
Leading suicide prevention and mental health advocates, along with those who have been impacted by the death of a loved one or friend through suicide, will gather on Monday, 19 May 2025, from 12.30-1.30pm at the Perth Conference and Exhibition Centre – Liberty Cafe, for the first-ever Wesley LifeForce Suicide Memorial Service in Perth. Held alongside the Suicide Prevention Australia Conference, the event will provide a space for healing, connection, and remembrance.
The service will culminate in a powerful sunflower ceremony, where attendees can place sunflowers, a symbol of strength, resilience and hope, in memory of their loved ones.
The event comes at a critical time for Western Australia. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW, 2023), the national suicide rate is 13 deaths per 100,000 people with the Kimberley region having one of the highest suicide rates in the country, with 32.9 deaths per 100,000 people. Among First Nations people in WA, the crisis is even more severe—young adults aged 25-34 face suicide rates of 87 deaths per 100,000.
Wesley Mission CEO, Rev Stu Cameron, emphasised the importance of creating spaces where grief can be shared and support can be found.
"Grief does not follow a schedule and healing looks different for everyone. Our sunflower ceremony is a chance for people to come together, honour those they have lost and find comfort in community," says Rev Cameron.
Rev Cameron also highlighted the power of shared stories in breaking down stigma.
"Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy and by coming together, in loss we can discover connection and compassion. Our aim is to provide a space for reflection, remembrance and hope."
The Wesley LifeForce Memorial Service will offer a safe and inclusive space for people of all faiths and backgrounds. Those attending can share messages on the memorial wall, receive support from counsellors and take part in the symbolic sunflower ceremony, a moment of collective healing and tribute.
