More family and community discussion on mental health needed to help prevent youth Suicide
World Suicide Prevention Day: Sunday, 10 September

One of the country’s leading providers of community services for young people, Mission Australia, has called on parents and the community to talk more openly with children about issues that may be troubling them to help reduce Australia’s youth suicide rate.

Mission Australia’s call coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day on Sunday, 10 September – an initiative of the World Health Organisation.

Mission Australia’s 2005 Youth Survey – a national survey of around 11,300 young people, aged 11-24 (94% between 11-19) released in December 2005 – found that, when asked to rank 10 issues of concern in level of importance, ‘suicide/self harm’ was ranked most frequently in the top three by 41.3% of respondents – a significant increase from the 2004 survey when 33.7% of people considered it of concern.

‘Suicide/self harm’ was of concern to more females than males. 45.3% of females rated it as one of their top three concerns, compared to 34.8% of males.

Mission Australia spokesperson, Paul Andrews, said that while Australia’s most recently published youth suicide rate (2004) was at its lowest level in a decade, it was important to raise awareness and encourage parents and families to talk openly about the issues that may lead a young person to consider self harm.

“We know from our own National Youth Survey that young people are contemplating very serious issues at a young age, and as long as they are, we need to reach out to them – in families, but also through our schools and community groups – to make sure they feel they have someone to talk to and somewhere to get help and information,” said Mr Andrews.

“Part of the reason why Australia has been more successful in preventing youth suicide in the last decade is because the community at large has made a greater effort to destigmatise depression and mental illness and talk more openly about the issues that surround suicide and self harm among young people.”

Among 15-19 year old Australians, suicide accounted for a total of 85 registered deaths in 2004, at a rate of 6.2 per 100,000 people (7.5 for males, 4.8 for females). Suicide accounted for 15.2% of total male deaths and 17.1% of total female deaths registered in this age group (source: Suicides, Australia, 1994 to 2004. ABS, 2006).

Among 20-24 year olds Australians, suicide accounted for a total of 180 registered deaths in 2004, at a rate of 12.9 per 100,000 for persons (20.0 for males, 5.5 for females). Suicide accounted for 24.2% of total male deaths and 16.6% of total female deaths in this age group (source: Suicides, Australia, 1994 to 2004. ABS, 2006).
For both age groups, 2004’s youth suicide rate is the lowest for any year in the previous decade.

“Young people may feel depressed, anxious or isolated for a number of reasons. They might be experiencing mental illness, they may feel isolated from family or friends because of problems at home or school and they don’t feel they have the support network to ‘bounce back’, or it might be because of drug and alcohol abuse.

“But we can help combat those feelings by making sure that young people know there are family, friends and organisations out there to help.

“Our survey showed that 76.3% of respondents felt they had adequate information on these issues, and knew who to turn to for help – and that’s mostly friends, parents and relatives – so that’s really encouraging. But we can’t rest until it’s 100%.

“This World Suicide Prevention Day, we particularly encourage parents to reach out to their children to talk about anything that might be troubling them, or their friends, and in doing so let’s see if we can’t further reduce Australia’s youth suicide rate,” Mr Andrews said.

Media contact: Paul Andrews (02) 9219 2080 or 0409 665 495