Suicide Prevention Month: What can schools do?

Updated on 09 Sep 2025

In a Nutshell

Suicide Prevention Month can be a valuable time for schools to spotlight mental health and engage in meaningful, student-centred activities.
Creating a safe school culture requires year-round commitment to policies, teacher and student wellbeing, and inclusive practices.
Teachers and school leaders can take small, practical steps to prevent isolation, encourage mental health conversations, and identify early warning signs of mental and emotional challenges.

Suicide Prevention Month, held every September, is more than a calendar event. It’s a critical opportunity for schools to focus on mental health, start conversations, and create safer environments for students and staff.

For young people, school can be a place of growth and connection, but it can also be a space where issues like bullying, exclusion, and academic pressure impact their mental wellbeing.

While one month can raise awareness, sustainable change comes from consistent action. This article offers ideas for what schools can do during Suicide Prevention Month, as well as practical steps to maintain a mentally healthy culture throughout the year.

Why schools play a central role in suicide prevention

Schools are where many young people experience daily life, interact with peers, and build their sense of identity.

For some students, these experiences include bullying, discrimination, or feeling excluded, all of which can lead to emotional distress. And it's is their teachers, staff, and school leaders who are often the first adults outside the family to notice when something is wrong.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, suicide remains the leading cause of death for young Australians aged 15 to 24. This highlights the importance of prevention and early support in school settings.

What schools can do during Suicide Prevention Month

September is a chance for schools to launch or highlight initiatives that prioritise mental health. These activities can help reduce stigma, increase awareness, and encourage students and staff to look out for each other.

1. Host a mental health awareness week

Designate one week in September to focus on wellbeing by running a series of themed events and conversations. Here are some activities to consider:

Invite mental health speakers, including youth advocates, psychologists, or local support workers
Organise themed days around kindness, connection, gratitude, or resilience
Share real stories (with consent) that normalise asking for help and talking about emotions

2. Create a kindness wall or pledge station

Promoting positive messaging helps inspire a culture of support. A kindness wall or pledge station might include:

Sticky notes with affirmations and words of encouragement
Student and staff pledges to be supportive, inclusive, or to check in on others
Information cards about local and national mental health support services

3. Encourage student-led wellbeing initiatives

Students are powerful peer influencers. Schools can support them to:

Lead a wellbeing committee or mental health club
Organise lunchtime activities like “positivity pop-ups” or peer conversation tables
Design posters, videos, or social media content that raise awareness and offer support pathways

4. Share tips and stories across school channels

Communication during September can be simple but impactful. Schools may choose to:

Post wellbeing tips in newsletters, bulletins, or on digital boards
Share uplifting stories of resilience and seeking mental health support on social media
Direct students and families to support services such as Kids Helpline or Beyond Blue

Strategies to support suicide prevention all year round

While Suicide Prevention Month provides a helpful spotlight, sustained change requires ongoing commitment.

Here are some areas to focus on to protect student and staff wellbeing throughout the year.

1. Maintain strong anti-bullying policies and practices

A clear policy helps ensure students understand that bullying and cyberbullying are not acceptable. Schools should:

Outline clear reporting processes and consequences for bullying
Offer restorative justice or peer-mediation opportunities
Regularly train staff to recognise signs of bullying and social exclusion

2. Build a culture of inclusion and belonging

When students feel accepted for who they are, they are less likely to feel isolated. Schools can promote inclusion by:

Celebrating diverse cultures, identities, and perspectives through regular events
Including stories, role models, and language in the curriculum that reflect student diversity
Supporting student-led groups such as LGBTQIA+ allies, cultural clubs, or disability advocacy networks

3. Provide mental health literacy training for staff

Teachers are often the first to notice changes in student behaviour. So it’s important that they are equipped to respond. Schools can:

Offer training in youth mental health first aid
Provide clear referral pathways to school counsellors or wellbeing staff
Include mental health topics in ongoing professional development

4. Partner with families and professionals

No school works in isolation when it comes to mental health. Strong partnerships with parents and professionals ensure that students receive coordinated, compassionate care.

Schools can strengthen these relationships by:

Keeping families informed about school wellbeing initiatives and where to find support
Offering parent information sessions on topics such as mental health, online safety, or resilience
Building links with local psychologists, youth workers, or GPs for external referrals

5. Support teacher and staff wellbeing

When staff feel valued and cared for, they’re better able to show up to class and support their students. Schools can promote staff wellbeing by:

Encouraging the use of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and mental health days
Creating time for staff to debrief and reflect, especially after difficult interactions
Minimising administrative burden to allow more focus on relationships and student engagement

Don’t have an EAP in place? Explore Talked’s Beyond EAP for modern, flexible mental health services your staff will love.

Where to find more resources and ideas?

Planning for Suicide Prevention Month or broader wellbeing strategies can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, several reliable resources are available to help schools plan and implement effective mental health initiatives:

Start with small, achievable steps. Whether it is a conversation, a policy update, or a staff wellbeing initiative, every action sends a message that mental health matters.