Trigger warning: This article discusses suicide. Help is always available – call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
When Dylan Lewis sat down to speak about why he chose Lifeline as his supported charity on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, no one was expecting the words that followed.
“My brother’s name is Quinn. He’s three years younger than me… We grew up best friends… He’s the reason I do music,” the TV and radio host began.
His voice wavered as he confessed he had never spoken publicly about Quinn before, then said: “[He] had a few mental health issues going on and, 15 years ago, he took his own life.”
Dylan opened up about losing his brother to suicide on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
(Image: Network Ten)
.png?resize=380%2C285)
The revelation brought Dylan to tears and served as a gut-wrenching reminder to his fellow contestants – and viewers at home – about the importance of suicide prevention.
Nine people die by suicide every day here in Australia and more than 65,000 attempt it each year, but Lifeline and other charities are working hard to change that painful figure.
Dylan is representing Lifeline in the jungle and said that the staff behind the suicide prevention service will always “know what kind of help you need.”
Former Lifeline Chairman and current Patron John Brogden tells Now To Love that Dylan’s courage and honest has shown other Aussies that it’s okay to be vulnerable and seek help.
“We know that creating suicide-safe communities where people can express their feelings without fear of judgement and access the right support can save lives, which is why breaking down residual stigma is so important,” he explains.
“No-one needs to face their darkest moments alone.”
Dylan’s message is such a vital one to spread if we want to make a difference in the current suicide rate here in Australia, and he’s not the only local star speaking out.
And in Dylan’s words, “If you’re worried about someone, you can call Lifeline and they’ll tell you what to do. They’ll tell you some steps to take.”
If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, help is always available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Keep reading for all the powerful messages of awareness and support from other stars that serve as reminders of why suicide prevention is so important.
Dylan Lewis
After sharing his brother’s story on I’m A Celeb…, Dylan shared this touching throwback photo from when Quinn was still alive. He captioned it: “This is me and my beautiful brother, Quinn. I think about him every day and love him every day and wish he was still with us. Every day. If you are worried about you or someone else, please call @lifelineaustralia – 131114.”
Osher Günsberg
Osher opened up about his own experiences with suicidal thoughts last year in the documentary Osher Günsberg: A Matter Of Life And Death on SBS. Speaking of his darkest times in 2014, Osher said: “I was considering, 10, 20 times a day, not being here anymore. I was dealing with these horrible thoughts. It’s so traumatic and distressing and awful. Eventually, you just get tired of fighting it.”
Fortunately, meeting his wife and her daughter helped Osher seek help and heal, adding that he wants to inspire others to do the same. “I wanted to give people who were in trouble what was given to me,” he said. “When I was in trouble, the most powerful thing I could hear was someone who had lived experience, who had been where I had been and was now doing a whole lot better.”
WATCH BELOW: Osher Günsberg on Australia’s suicide crisis. Gallery continues after video…
Osher Günsberg on Australia’s suicide crisis
Abbie Chatfield
After her first stint on The Bachelor, Abbie opened up about battling “really extreme suicidal thoughts” because of the cruel trolling and online attacks aimed at her. She told the Celebrity Kind podcast that she feared for her safety and her mental health went into freefall: “It’s really hard when that gets into your psyche and you truly believe that after a while.”
Since rising to fame on the show, she has been a vocal champion of a number of mental health causes, encouraging people to speak up and seek help when they need it. “I still struggle with all the trolling. I still struggle with things. I try to take care of my mental health… I go to therapy once a week,” she confessed on the TV RELOAD podcast in February 2021.
Beau Ryan
Fellow I’m A Celeb… contestant Beau spoke about the importance of suicide prevention in 2020, when he acted as an ambassador for R U OK? Day. He took to Instagram to share these words of support: “You are not alone. The thing about mental health is sometimes you don’t know when people are struggling. It could be right in front of you. It could be the person you least expect. Your brother, Your sister. Your Mum. Your Dad Your best mate. Mental health does not discriminate.
“Suicide is the leading cause of death in young Australians and that is frustrating because it can be preventable. Suicide does not discriminate. It could be the person closest to you. Now more than ever we need to connect because a conversation could save a life. I know it did for one of my best mates. Real mates talk a lot of sh*t but they also should about their feelings. Real mates open up. So check in. Be accountable. You’ll never ever regret helping someone.”
Ian Thorpe
He was an Australian Olympic legend, but after retiring from swimming in 2006 Ian experienced crippling suicidal thoughts though he managed to hide his mental state from those around him. He confessed his struggles in a blog post for Huffington Post Australia in 2016, after seeking support.
“Although it may have taken me a while to get to this point and realisation in my life, I assure you it’s worth it,” he said, encourgaing others to get help too. “I realise the wonder of the world and I approach each day with an enthusiasm that I haven’t felt for what seems like an eternity.”
Brooke Blurton
The 2021 Bachelorette lost her mother to suicide when she was just 11 years old and has previously spoken about how the experince had a lasting effect on her. She told NW: “That doesn’t go to say that my family didn’t love me, I did have a loving family but my mum just struggled to provide us with what we needed.”
In the years since, Brooke has channelled what she learned from her own traumatic childhood into helping other young First Nations people through her career as a youth worker. She was an ambassador for R U OK? Day in 2019 and said at the time: “I want to empower people with knowledge on the signs someone is struggling, so they can trust their gut instinct and start a conversation that could change a life. You don’t have the be an expert, just a good listener and a good friend.”
Simone Holtznagel
This Aussie model has been vocal on the topic of suicide prevention ever since the death friend and mentor Charlotte Dawson in 2014. On the anniversary of Dawson’s death by suicide in 2021, Simone took to Instagram and wrote: “‘The last 7 years when this date comes around, I feel like I want to say something profound about suicide and losing one of the most special people in my life.”
She continued: “But 7 years comes and goes and I still can’t seem to find the right words other than – I miss you, I love you and I f–king wish you were here.”
WATCH BELOW: Jackie Gillies delivers a message to Simone Holtznagel from Charlotte Dawson on I’m A Celeb. Gallery continues after video…
Jackie Gillies delivers a message to Simone Holtznagel from Charlotte Dawson on I’m A Celeb
Tayla Damir
The influencer and former Love Island Australia star has been a vocal champion for suicide prevention after experiencing her own struggles with suicidal thoughts. In 2019 she took to YouTube to open up about her “dark” mental state in her teens, admitting: “I remember just thinking my life would be easier if it did end then and there.”
The reality star went on to share a message of hope, adding: “That upsets me so much now, I got through that point and… I wish I could go back and just tell myself at that age and that vulnerable part of my life that it gets better.” Over the years she has shared other supportive messages and worked with groups like Beyond Blue and R U OK? Day to highlight the importance of suicide prevention.
Kristy Wright
After Dieter Brummer’s tragic death in 2021, his former Home And Away co-star and girlfriend Kristy Wright urged people struggling with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts to reach out for help. “I’m always shocked after the loss of a loved one, by how the world just keeps on turning. The sun keeps on rising. The days keep moving forward and further away from them,” she wrote on Instagram.
The actress then shared a link to a Go Fund Me page created by of Dieter’s mum Dawn, who was raising money for Beyond Blue in Dieter’s memory, “so that those who are struggling can get the help they need.”
Lynne McGranger
Current Home And Away actress Lynne also shared a suicide prevention message after Dieter’s death, tweeting: “Please reach out. Ask if people are doing ok. And tell someone if YOURE not ok! Yell over the fence, call ,message, Facebook, whatever it takes. I’m no expert but surely sharing your fears, anxieties, dark thoughts must help lessen their impact. God bless DB fly high 💙”
Dieter Brummer’s family
The actor’s loved ones spoke out after his passing to push for suicide prevention and better mental health support for people in Australia. His mum Dawn said on a fundraising page at the time: “Whilst he has now found peace, we know there are others who are suffering and need help.
“It is our hope that we can use our collective grief for a positive effect. Together, we can raise funds to make a real difference to the lives of those affected by depression and prevent other families feeling as we do now.” They went on to raise more than $7,000 in his memory.
