POSITION STATEMENT Suicide and self-harm among Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender communities Suicide Prevention Australia

Suicide Prevention Australia (SPA) is a non-profit, community organisation working as a public health advocate in suicide and self-harm prevention, intervention and postvention. SPA is the only national umbrella body active in suicide prevention throughout Australia, promoting: As a national organisation, SPA supports and assists both individuals and organisations throughout Australia, by promoting collaboration and partnerships in suicide prevention, intervention and postvention. SPA is supported by funding from the Australian Government under the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. SPA regularly publishes position statements on priority areas of suicide and self-harm prevention and postvention in Australia. These foundation documents provide a basis for understanding, discussion, teaching, delivery and research, and reflect the diversity of voices within the sector. They are not intended to be specific to or limited to policy-makers alone, but are instead written with a general cross-section of the educated lay public in mind (ie. broader community, media, and other NGOs). SPA Position Statements therefore represent a starting point for policy and strategy development, while supporting SPA's ongoing advocacy work and activities. These documents are developed in close consultation with community and specialist reference groups and are ratified by the SPA Board. They are reviewed annually with the intention of being reaffirmed, revised or retired, and generally do not refer to issues previously covered by other SPA Position Statements or by those currently in the process of being drafted. Acknowledgments SPA acknowledges the advice, support and involvement of those individuals and groups that contributed to the development of this position statement. Appreciation is particularly expressed to those who, through their participation, provided invaluable knowledge, expertise and experience. This includes members of the Suicide and self-harm among Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender communities SPA Position Statement Reference Group and those who took part in the broader community consultation process or contributed independently via direct dialogue with SPA and its representatives. SPA also acknowledges and appreciates the ongoing contributions of the SPA Board and its State Delegates. Thanks are also expressed to Atari Metcalf at Inspire Foundation for his assistance in researching, writing and editing the position statement, and to Katrina Clifford for her proofreading of the position statement. Disclaimer This material has been prepared for information purposes only, and represents the views of Suicide Prevention Australia, based on the best available evidence at the time of publication. While all reasonable care has been taken in its preparation, Suicide Prevention Australia makes …