About us
Our focus is ensuring everyone has access to Suicide Prevention and Crisis Support everywhere in the world.
Our overarching mission is to live in a world where access to quality suicide prevention support is available, accepted and encouraged.
As a membership organisation, we believe that through collaboration and shared purpose, we can work towards our vision of a world without suicide.
We work with people with lived experience, our Member organisations, governments and suicide prevention organisations to develop policy, advocacy, programs and events to promote and improve access to quality suicide prevention services across the world.
Our key focus areas are:
Promoting, organising and conducting conventions, conferences, meetings and educational programmes aimed at promoting the objectives of LifeLine International and our Members.
Capturing, sharing and disseminating knowledge and learnings drawn from LifeLine International members, partners and our wider network.
Facilitating member access to knowledge through resources, issues focused training, links to subject matter experts and through communities of practice.
Encourage and lead global public discourse on suicide prevention as a global public health priority. Create a high level of public awareness of and support for LifeLine International and our Members. Be widely known as an authoritative and influential voice on suicide prevention across the world.
LifeLine International seeks opportunities to diversify and grow our income to ensure that we have the capacity to deliver our strategic plan and empower our Members to deliver sustainable services.
Partners and Supporters
LifeLine International partners with many outstanding organisations doing important work in suicide prevention as well as supporters that enable LifeLine International to achieve its purpose.
LifeLine International Patrons
Her Excellency Toyin Ojoro Saraki
As Founder-President of The Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), Her Excellency Mrs Toyin Ojora Saraki is a global advocate for women’s and children’s health and empowerment, with two decades of advocacy covering reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health; ending gender-based discrimination and violence; and improving education, socio-economic empowerment, and community livelihoods in sub- Saharan Africa.
Mrs Saraki is the Inaugural and Emeritus Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM); special adviser and member of the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), was named by Devex as UHC Global Champion, is the UNFPA Nigeria Family Planning Champion, the Save the Children Newborn Health Champion for Nigeria; and is a Global Champion for the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood. Mrs Saraki is a member of the International Steering Committee ICPD25 and was appointed the inaugural WHO Foundation Global Health Ambassador in 2022. Mrs Saraki currently sits on the Board of Trustees for Seed Global Health, the Leadership Council of Africa Reach and the Global Advisory Board of the World Humanitarian Forum.
Leadership
LifeLine International (ABN 12639930206) is governed by a Board of Directors in accordance with our Constitution.
Members of our Board are passionate advocates for suicide prevention across the world and bring a wealth of insights and lived experience to their role.
The Board and CEO are responsible for the stewardship and future well-being of LifeLine International and bears ultimate responsibility for the organisation achieving the purpose for which it exists.
Jetha Devapura, Acting President
Jetha is a social entrepreneur with 30 years’ experience working across corporate and non-profit organisations.
He is the founder CEO of CCC Foundation Australia, a not for profit that runs the largest cancer transit home and a LifeLine Centre in Sri Lanka. Jetha is also the founder of the Let’sTALK Program aimed at cultivating a climate of Psychological Safety in schools and workplaces.
He has extensive experience in leadership and strategy with previous CEO roles in a business optimisation consultancy and a not-for-profit disability charity. He also has not for profit Board experience in President and Secretary roles.
Thili Perera, CEO
Thili Perera was appointed as CEO of LifeLine International in July 2021. Previously, Thili also held senior executive roles at LifeLine Australia – Australia’s preeminent suicide prevention helpline.
Her work concentrates on collaborating with a range of stakeholders across the world to reduce stigma, increase understanding that suicides are preventable and ensure that suicide prevention is a key priority on the global public health agenda.
Thili is a qualified corporate governance professional and a legal practitioner of the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court. Thili also chairs the Board of CarersACT – a not-for-profit organisation that focuses on supporting, connecting and empowering carers to maintain their caring role and personal wellbeing.
Board members
Governance
LifeLine International is committed to the highest standards of legal and ethical behaviour in pursuing our mission to save lives. To this end, our Code of Conduct and Ethical Guidelines Policy specifies the standard of behaviour required of all LifeLine International staff, contractors, volunteers and Board of Directors.