It Hits Close

Chances are, you have been touched by suicide in some way. Whether that is losing a loved one or a member of your community, supporting someone left behind or struggling, or even fighting your own inner battle, it is a stark reality happening in Australia today.

In the preparation for this walk and blog post, I looked at the Victorian Coroners Court Monthly Suicide Data Report June 2025 update (published 22 July 2025). Generally speaking, I'm a human over data on a page gal. In my eyes, the loss of one life is catastrophic. However, looking at the numbers solidified the importance of the Out of the Shadows Walk, services like Lifeline, and breaking down the stigma.

This report says that the number of suicide deaths in Victoria for the first half of 2025 stands at 386, and an alarming 33% of those were in the regional areas of the state.

I'll admit that it shook me to read that 97 are in my age group of 35 - 44. My mind wandered over the faces of my husband, our housemate, sister, friends, colleagues, and people I went to school with.

It hit home, as I knew one of those 97 people. Earlier this year, I was rattled by the loss of a beautiful human who touched so many lives and will always remain an integral part of a close-knit community. Their story is not mine to tell, but I will absolutely be walking with them on my heart.