Building awareness and support this Mental Health Month
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29 October 2025
With the AMA Queensland Foundation’s 2025 social cause of mental health and suicide prevention, recently announced, this October’s Mental Health Month has been particularly relevant. Across the month, a number of organisations held events and raised awareness for better mental health for all Australians.
October was the perfect time for the Foundation to launch our 2025 Christmas Appeal. A target of $50,000 has been set to provide improved services, extend life-saving support and give the gift of hope to Queenslanders in need.
Queensland Mental Health Week
Our 2025 Christmas Appeal was launched on World Mental Health Day on 10 October and during Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW), which ran from 4-12 October.
The Foundation held a virtual event for the launch through QMHW, joining over 400 other events held both virtually and in-person over the week throughout Queensland.
The shared goal of participants in QMHW is to:
- Promote activities that enhance mental, physical, social and spiritual wellbeing
- Reduce stigma associated with mental illness by raising awareness
- Provide information about mental health or wellbeing services
- Celebrate individuals who make your community unique
- Make connections with partners or the local community
- Encourage help-seeking and self-care
Sharing important facts about mental health and suicide
What are the facts about mental ill-health and suicide in Australia and particularly in Queensland? Here's some of the information we have researched and shared across mental health month.
We also acknowledge that behind every statistic is a person, and their loved ones. We hope you can keep this in mind as you consider these sobering facts.
Prevalence of mental ill-health over lifetime
Almost one in two Australians will have experienced a mental health condition in their lifetime: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2022 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing
Mental health burden
In 2024, mental disorders, including substance use disorders, were the third leading cause of healthy years of life lost (855,559) translating to an age-standardised rate (ASR or standardised rate) for mental health burden of 32.8 per 1,000 persons in Australia: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Queensland
In 2020-2022, 23.7% of Queenslanders 16 to 85 years had experienced a mental disorder in the past 12 months. Anxiety disorders were the most commonly reported mental disorder (19.2%), followed by affective disorders (8.6%) and substance use disorders (3.2%).
45.2% of Queenslanders 16 to 85 years had experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life. Anxiety disorders were the most common (29.9%), followed by substance use disorders (20.7%) and affective disorders (16.9%). Queensland and Australian lifetime prevalence of mental disorders were similar across all conditions: Chief Health Officer Report on Mental Health.
Prevalence of suicide in Queensland
On average more than two Queenslanders per day will take their own life.
According to figures from Queensland Mental Health Commission’s latest Suicide in Queensland Annual Report 2024. 769 suspected suicides were recorded in 2024, with an age-standardised suspected suicide rate of 13.6 per 100,000 Queenslanders.
- 78.3% of deaths were male, with the rate among men 3.7 times higher than women.
- 61 First Nations people lost their lives, representing almost 8% of all deaths, with disproportionate impact among those aged 25–34.
Australia
On average, more than 3,000 Australians lose their lives by suicide each year. Each suicide is devastating to family, friends and the community. It is estimated that an additional 135 people are affected by each death: Chief Health Officer Report on Suicide.
A cause close to the hearts of Queensland’s doctors.
On launch of the Christmas Appeal, AMA Queensland Foundation Chair Dr Dilip Dhupelia explained that the focus for this year's appeal was in response to a survey of Queensland doctors. The majority identified mental ill-health and suicide as an issue of highest priority for fundraising.
“As doctors, we see patients experience barriers to support, and we see colleagues doing it tough also. We all wish we could do more to help,” Dr Dhupelia said.
Women in Medicine charity of choice
The Foundation is honoured to be the charity partner for AMA Queensland’s Women in Medicine Breakfast on 30 October.
A silent auction and raffle will be held during the event, and all funds raised will go towards the 2025 Christmas Appeal.
We look forward to being a part of a wonderful day recognising gender equality in medicine, as well as raising awareness, and funds for the vital cause of mental health and suicide prevention.
As we wrap up Mental Health Month, we thank all those who have worked with us so far to raise awareness and given thought to the issues around mental ill-health and suicide in Queensland, and especially, to all those who have already contributed to our Appeal. We look forward to sharing insights with you over the coming weeks.
Help us reach our first milestone of $10,000.
We're on our way to our first milestone of $10,000 – and the Foundation would love to have this gift wrapped up and under our virtual giving tree ASAP. Can you help us achieve this first milestone for those doing it tough over the holiday season?
Every little bit will make a difference to Queenslanders in need!
24-hour support
If any of the topics in this article have raised issues for you, help is available. Here’s where you can find 24/7 support.
- Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
- Lifeline 13 11 14