Suicide claims 9 lives everyday - memorial service to mark the hidden toll this ANZAC weekend

Wesley LifeForce

Media release

For immediate release                                                       24 April 2026

Suicide claims 9 lives everyday – memorial service to mark the hidden toll this ANZAC weekend

As Australia marks ANZAC weekend, a public memorial service in Sydney this Monday, 27 April 2026, will shine a light on another national toll, lives lost to suicide at a rate that continues to outpace urgent action.

The Wesley LifeForce Suicide Memorial Service, taking place at ICC Sydney Exhibition Centre on Monday 27 April from 12.30–1.30pm, comes as latest Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing (AIHW) data highlights the scale and urgency of suicide across Australia.

Latest figures show 3,307 Australians died by suicide in 2024, around 2.5 times the national road toll. This equates to nine deaths every day, or one life lost approximately every three hours.

For the defence community, the figures are equally stark. Between 1997 and 2023, 1,840 serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members died by suicide, with 73 deaths recorded in 2022 alone.

Suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15–24 and 25–44.

Wesley LifeForce General Manager and suicidology authority, Mr Andy Moore, says the service is both a moment of remembrance and a call-to-action Australia can no longer delay.

“We would never accept a road toll this high without urgent national action yet when it comes to suicide, too often we look away.  Nine lives lost every day is not a statistic to manage. It is a national emergency that demands a stronger, more urgent response.”

Held alongside the National Suicide Prevention Conference, the memorial service will bring together sector leaders, people with lived experience and the wider community in a shared moment of reflection.

Attendees will be invited to place sunflowers, symbols of strength, resilience and hope in memory of loved ones.

Mr Moore says ANZAC weekend adds another layer of meaning.

“ANZAC weekend is about honouring service and sacrifice. For many families, that sacrifice continues long after service ends.  We cannot commemorate courage on one hand and ignore preventable loss on the other. These conversations belong together.”

The free public service is open to people of all ages, backgrounds and faiths, offering a safe and inclusive space for remembrance, connection and support.

“You do not need an invitation. If you have lost someone, or you are carrying that grief quietly, this space is for you.  Coming together matters. It reminds people they are not alone and that support is there,” says Mr Moore.

Wesley LifeForce supports more than 140 community-led suicide prevention networks across Australia and has trained over 40,000 people in suicide prevention over the past 15 years.

“We know connection saves lives. We know early support works. The question now is whether we are prepared to act at the scale this crisis demands,” says Mr Moore.

EVENT DETAILS:


Wesley LifeForce Suicide Memorial Service

Monday 27 April 2026 ICC Sydney Exhibition Centre – Meeting Rooms E.31 and E3.2

12.30 – 1.30pm        14 Darling Drive, Sydney NSW 2000

Media contact: Anne Holt
0418 628 342
or [email protected]

Wesley Lifeforce General Manager, Andy Moore, is available for interview

 About Wesley Mission’s Suicide Prevention work

Wesley LifeForce is a national suicide prevention program run by Wesley Mission that educates, empowers and resources local communities, supporting people most at risk. More than 40,000 people have been trained through the program during the past 15 years.

With a presence in every state and territory focusing on areas where the problem of suicide hits the hardest, Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Networks are community-led action groups addressing suicide at a local level. So far, there are 140 groups across Australia representing a membership of more than 2,500 people. New networks are being established every year through the support of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, and Primary Health Networks.

For further information click here.

MEDIA PLEASE NOTE: Most people – including media professionals – have been touched by suicide. For many people, the service will be one of mixed emotions. We ask that you respect the privacy of people who are attending and those participating in the service. For safe reporting guidelines on suicide go to: https://everymind.org.au/resources/mindframe-for-media-professionals         People who are experiencing distress can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14