Jessica Wilcox National Suicide Prevention Conference 2026

Jessica Wilcox

Jess Wilcox is a lived and living experience advocate working across mental health, suicide prevention, domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV), and disability inclusion. Drawing on her own experiences of suicidality, complex trauma, and treatment-resistant depression, Jess brings a deeply informed, person-centred perspective to her work. Her advocacy focuses on bridging the gap between systems, services, and the realities of those they aim to support. She is currently studying in her third year of a Bachelor of Psychological Science at the University of Newcastle. Jess has career aspirations to focus on youth mental health, trauma, suicide prevention, and how digital interventions can assist in this sector. She also holds prior qualifications in Information Technology (B.IT) and Business Administration (GC.BusAdmin). Jess works as a mental health peer worker within NSW Health (HNE LHD) and contributes as a lived experience consultant across multiple sectors, including gender-based violence within higher education. Jess sits on several advisory groups within the mental health and suicide prevention sector, contributing to national and state conversations on system reform, digital safety, and inclusive practice. She is particularly focused on addressing intersecting accessibility barriers, and the need for more connected, responsive systems across healthcare and support services. Her advocacy is centred around ensuring safety, dignity and accountability is at the forefront of conversations. Her work is grounded in advocacy, research, and storytelling, with a commitment to amplifying lived and living expertise to inform more compassionate, effective, and equitable systems of care.