As a multiply disabled neurodivergent person who has been on the brink of suicide one too many times, it's paramount to address this plea with utmost urgency and commitment. The struggle is undeniably harder for us, the disabled and Autistic individuals, who are constantly forced to bear the burden of a society that fails to value and provide us with the proper support. Yet, our voices are barely reaching the surface. 

Factually, disabled people are twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to their non-disabled peers. Autistic people are 7-times more likely to die by side compared to non-Autistic individuals. People with physical disabilities are at 5-times higher risk of suicide.

In Australia, individuals with psychosocial disabilities who used disability services has a suicide rate of 118 per 100,000 for ages 20-34, significantly higher than those with other disabilities.

Being disabled means we experience higher rates of social exclusion (like from conferences hint hint), discrimination, and inadequate access to employment, education and healthcare.

Furthermore, the lack of peer-to-peer representation at pivotal platforms like the National Suicide Prevention Conference is distressing and unacceptable.

I urge the organisers to mandate the keynote speaker for the conference in 2025 to be a representative from the disabled community itself - someone who can truly articulate our struggles with suicide prevention. This is not just an appeal for inclusion and diversity, but a proposal to bring forth authentic understanding and generate meaningful solutions.

Failure to integrate our perspectives in such platforms only perpetuates the systemic oppression, making us feel more like burdens and less like valued members of society.

For too long, we have been silenced and marginalised. It's high time we shift the narrative and actively contribute to discourses around suicide prevention, particularly relevant to us, ensuring that we're no longer unseen or unheard.

Please support this petition in our endeavor to effect real, desired change in the mental health landscape, specifically in the area of suicide prevention. Let's deepen our understanding by broadening the range of voices heard. Please sign this petition to show support.