New initiative to empower community suicide prevention

National Hope Week is a new health promotion initiative aimed at raising awareness of suicide and its prevention. The initiative is led by Lake Macquarie and Newcastle Suicide Prevention Network (LMNSPN) in collaboration with Suicide Prevention Networks across Australia.

The new annual community-wide initiative fosters hope, reduces stigma surrounding suicide, and empowers individuals and communities to take action in suicide prevention.

National Hope Week aims to:

• Cultivate a sense of optimism and possibility within the community
• Foster connection, collaboration and a shared sense of responsibility for the prevention of suicide
• Empower individuals to take concrete steps towards suicide prevention
• Increase knowledge and understanding of suicide and available resources, and
• Promote empathy, kindness, and support for those affected by suicide.

The inaugural National Hope Week was held 23-29 March 2025. As part of the initiative, LMNSPN encouraged local service providers and other Suicide Prevention Networks across Australia to become signatories of the National communications charter (the Charter) at a special event. The Charter is a unified approach to help guide the way people communicate about mental health and wellbeing, mental health concerns and suicide.

Bradley Dunn, CEO of LMNSPN said the principles and key messages of the Charter align with the work of LMNSPN, with their aim to reduce the impact and incidence of suicide in the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle region, and connect people to care easily, and when they need it.

"National Hope Week will help to increase community awareness of suicide and its prevention, and is an opportunity to unify our communities across Australia to recognise and respond to the impact that suicide has on these communities. Together we can raise awareness and help to relieve the stigma attached to suicide so we can support those around us who need our support.” he said.

Learn more about the Charter

Learn more about Lake Macquarie and Newcastle Suicide Prevention Network (LMNSPN)