The Western Australian Ombudsman, Chris Field has presented a new three-volume report to Parliament dealing with the extent of young people’s suicide.
Mr Field’s report Preventing Suicide by Children and Young People 2020 examines the extent of the steps taken to adopt the Ombudsman’s recommendations from an earlier report tabled in 2014.
“The 2014 investigation examined the deaths of 36 young people aged 14 to 17 years,” Mr Field said.
“Arising from my findings, I made 22 recommendations to four Agencies.”
He said these were the Mental Health Commission, Department of Health, Department of Education and the (then) Department for Child Protection and Family Support, and all of the recommendations were accepted.
“I am very pleased to report to Parliament that I have found that steps have been taken or are proposed to be taken (or both) for each of the 22 recommendations,” Mr Field said.
He said this year’s investigation examined a further 79 deaths by suicide that occurred following the 2014 Investigation.
“The 2020 investigation examines what is known about suicide and self-harm by Western Australian children and young people, the research literature, current strategic frameworks, and data obtained during our investigation,” Mr Field said.
“Significantly, it also collates State-wide suicide and self-harm data relating to Western Australian children and young people over the nine years from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2018 for the first time.”
This data included deaths by suicide and hospital admissions and emergency department attendances for self-harming and suicidal behaviour.
Mr Field said he had made seven recommendations to four Government Agencies about preventing suicide by children and young people, including the development of a suicide prevention plan to focus and coordinate collaborative and cooperative State Government efforts.
“I am very pleased that each Agency has agreed to these recommendations and has, more generally, been positively engaged with our investigation,” the Ombudsman said.
Access to the Ombudsman’s reports and commentary is available from this PS News link.
If this story raises concern for you, help and counselling is available from Lifeline Australia 13 11 14, and other services.
