Suicide prevention within Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities is a growing challenge that requires culturally responsive and tailored approaches. This presentation explores findings from an extensive project conducted with Brisbane South Primary Health Network (PHN), focussing on the development of a culturally appropriate framework for suicide prevention among seven key CALD communities. The communities involved include Afghan, Iraqi, Somali, Eritrean/Ethiopian, Iranian, South Sudanese, and Vietnamese populations, whose unique cultural, religious, and societal dynamics influence how mental health and suicide are perceived, addressed, and understood.
This presentation will emphasise the critical need for culturally nuanced interventions in Australia’s suicide prevention landscape, offering new insights on effective engagement strategies and best practices for CALD groups. Drawing on lived experiences gathered through in-depth consultations, community workshops, and co-design efforts, the findings highlight both the stigma surrounding mental health and the protective factors within each community that can be leveraged for suicide prevention efforts.
We will discuss the key barriers identified, such as language difficulties, cultural stigmatsation of mental health issues, and mistrust in mainstream services. Equally important are the enablers of successful interventions, which include the involvement of trusted religious and community leaders, culturally adapted training programs, and the development of a community of practice to ensure sustainability. The framework we propose is both community-led and evidence-based, focusing on empowering local trainers, integrating CALD-specific lived experience into the training process, and creating culturally safe spaces for open dialogue on suicide.
By the end of the presentation, participants will gain a clear understanding of how cultural responsiveness can be embedded in suicide prevention strategies and services, fostering inclusive, sustainable, and effective solutions across CALD communities in Australia. The discussion will also address the broader implications of this framework for national suicide prevention initiatives, emphasising the need for policies and services that reflect Australia’s multicultural reality. Through safe and inclusive language, this presentation underscores the importance of reducing suicide-related stigma and building culturally appropriate, long-term support systems for CALD populations.
This presentation will be of particular relevance to policymakers, mental health professionals, and organisations working in suicide prevention and postvention across Australia's diverse communities. It offers practical recommendations for future research, policy development, and service delivery that align with the themes of the 2025 National Suicide Prevention Conference, ultimately contributing to a more equitable mental health system for all Australians.