A nationwide study on suicide in young Australians has been released for the first time yesterday in the Medical Journal of Australia and revealed ill mental-health as a contributor to youth suicide.
73% of young Australians aged 10-24 who died by suicide between 2006 and 2015 experienced mental health difficulties, yet more than two thirds were not in contact with mental health services at the time of their death.
Associate Professor Jo Robinson, who leads Orygen’s suicide prevention research, said Australia needs to address the role of mental illness in youth suicide as “there are tragic consequences for missing obvious opportunities to intervene early to support and treat young people with mental health challenges.”
If you or someone you know needs mental health support, contact Lifeline at Lifeline.org.au, or phone 13 11 14.