Back

World Suicide Prevention Day and RUOK Day: New book shines a light on suicide, offering hope and breaking down stigma.

Debbie Swibel

Key Facts:

Suicide: Hope Beyond the Darkness by Debbie Swibel

Publish date: 1 September 2025

ISBN: 9780648758082

Publisher: Dean Publishing

 

Suicide: Hope Beyond the Darkness, by Debbie Swibel

Debbie is available for interviews, articles and book excerpts - and can speak in relation to World Suicide Prevention Day (10 Sep) and RU OK Day (11 Sep). 

In this powerful and compassionate new book, suicidologist Debbie Swibel invites readers to understand and empathise with one of the most pressing and misunderstood issues of our time: suicide.

Suicide: Hope Beyond the Darkness is an extraordinary exploration of struggle, survival and strength. 

Told through the deeply personal stories of those impacted by suicide, alongside professional insights into its causes, consequences, and the journey beyond, this compelling book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand one of society’s most challenging and all-too-common experiences.

Debbie Swibel brings a wealth of experience as a suicidologist, counsellor, educator and former Lifeline trainer and crisis supporter. Her professional insight, combined with a deeply human and compassionate approach, creates a resource that is both informative and profoundly moving.

With suicide currently the third leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds worldwide and research showing one in six people between 16 and 85 years have experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviors in their life, we need to bring suicide into the light to help with understanding and prevention. 

Suicide: Hope Beyond the Darkness is written for anyone who has been affected by suicide, whether they have had suicidal thoughts, survived an attempt, are supporting someone at risk, or are grieving a loss. It is a courageous invitation to talk openly, listen deeply, and foster understanding.

“This book is my way of saying: You are not alone,” Swibel explains. “Through storytelling and education, we can break the silence, challenge stigma, and bring hope to those who need it most.”

“Suicide prevention is not only about crisis intervention, it’s about creating a culture where people feel safe to talk, to be vulnerable, and to ask for help.”

Backed by Mental Health Movement, an organisation founded by former NRL player and mental health advocate Dan Hunt, this book brings together lived experience and evidence-based insights to shatter stigma and open the door to healing. 

Mental Health Movement, which has supported over half a million Australians across a wide range of industries, is proud to be financially supporting the publication of this vital resource to further their mission of mental wellness, education, and empowerment.

“When Debbie first shared her vision for this book, we knew it needed to be brought to life,” said Dan Hunt. “This is more than a book, it’s a lifeline. A reminder that even in our darkest moments, hope is never out of reach.”

Suicide: Hope Beyond the Darkness includes: 

• Stories of people who have lived through suicidal experiences remind readers that healing is possible, and that hope can emerge through the darkest times.

• Guidance on how to have conversations about suicide, offer support, and encourage help-seeking.

• Tools and resources such as psychoeducation, tips for postvention, and information about when and how to seek professional help.

• How to recognise signs that someone may be struggling, and how to respond with empathy and care.

• A deeper understanding of suicide bereavement and grief for those who have lost someone to suicide. 

• An exploration of the psychological, emotional, social, and cultural factors contributing to suicide, moving beyond simplistic explanations and busting myths about suicide. 

Whether you’re looking to better understand and support someone in your life, better understand your own mental health struggles, better understand the loss of someone to suicide, or better understand this crisis impacting so many, this is essential reading.  

Suicide: Hope Beyond the Darkness is available now: https://www.debbieswibel.com/book/

About us:

Debbie Swibel is a suicidologist, counsellor, therapist, criminologist, and educator who hopes to break down the stigma and deepen the understanding surrounding suicide and mental health. With tertiary qualifications in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Suicide Prevention and a Masters in Mental Health and Counselling, Debbie brings an impressive blend of academic insight, clinical skill, and compassion to her work.

Her experience spans the broad spectrum of suicide related care, from research and education to frontline crisis work, from counselling those experiencing suicidal thoughts or who have attempted suicide to walking alongside those bereaved by suicide. 

As an educator, her work has taken her across Australia, where she has educated, advocated, and raised awareness about suicide and mental health, always aiming to break down stigma and create change. She has worked internationally in the United States and Malaysia, conducting classes in mental health and suicide prevention. For over a decade, Debbie served as a lead trainer with Lifeline, where she educated future crisis supporters on how to connect and communicate effectively with individuals who call in need of support. She also volunteered to answer the Lifeline phones.

With years of counselling experience specialising in suicide prevention and crisis support, Debbie’s approach combines professional insight with a deeply personal and human touch.

 

Contact details:

Erin Huckle

hello@chucklecommunications

0432213506