A powerful visual representation of male suicide took place on the lawn in front of Parliament House in Canberra on 19 November 2024, marking International Men’s Day.
Known as the largest presentation of its kind in the world, the display featured 2500 pairs of empty shoes symbolising the men and boys lost to suicide in Australia each year.
The third annual event, organised by grassroots survivors and families of the fallen, aimed to draw attention to the scale of the crisis and to push for change in how the issue is addressed.
The organisers argue that current approaches, which focus primarily on mental health, fail to tackle the root causes of situational distress that lead many men to take their own lives.
A call for action
Central to the event’s message was a call for the appointment of a dedicated Minister for Men’s Health and Welfare.
Advocates say this role is vital to shifting the national conversation and addressing the major factors driving male suicides.
According to event organisers men in “situational distress don’t need to be talked at” rather they need to be “listened to”.
“What men in situational distress really need is not to be talked at but simply have their concerns listened to and their welfare considered.”
The event’s stark statistics highlighted the urgency of the crisis: a man dies by suicide every three hours in Australia, while ambulance services responded to 19,800 male suicide-related incidents in 2023 — an average of two calls per hour.
‘Start saving our men and boys’
Despite its growing impact, organisers have expressed frustration over limited media coverage and social media visibility.
They urge Australians to share the event and its message online using the hashtag #2500toomany to bypass what they describe as an “algorithmic black hole.”
“We ask our fellow Australians to join us in sharing the event on their social media platforms,” the organisers said.
“We need to open this dialogue and start saving our men and boys.”
The need for urgent action
For three years, the event has aimed to open a national dialogue about male suicide, with organisers noting that in 2023, the display was held twice in one week.
This year’s presentation marked the fourth iteration of the initiative.
Organisers and participants hope the symbolic presence of the empty shoes will leave a lasting impact, reminding policymakers and the public of the lives lost and the need for urgent action.
For more information and to support the cause, visit: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066793477202
If this article has raised any concerns or distress, help is available. For immediate assistance, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
If you or someone you know is at risk, please seek immediate help by contacting emergency services on 000 in Australia.
For further support and resources on mental health and suicide prevention, visit the Lifeline website or Beyond Blue.
