A new report from the NSW Child Death Review Team (CDRT) detailing the work done by Government and non-government Agencies over the past year to prevent child deaths has found that more work is needed.
Acting Ombudsman and Convenor of the CDRT, Paul Miller said the NSW Child Death Review Team Annual Report 2019–20 detailed the extent to which the CDRT’s recommendations to prevent or reduce the likelihood of child deaths had been accepted by Agencies, and the progress made to implement the Team’s recommendations.
“As at 30 June 2020, the CDRT was monitoring a total of 19 recommendations in relation to Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI), private swimming pools, road safety, and suicide prevention,” Mr Miller said.
“The report acknowledges positive progress in a number of areas,” he said.
“However, it also notes that in some cases work to implement recommendations is yet to commence.”
Mr Miller said more action was needed from NSW Health, Transport for NSW and local Councils to address the CDRT’s recommendations.
He said the suicide rate for young people age 10-17 years increased over the past decade, which was unlike other causes and circumstances of death.
Mr Miller said the State generally had good systems in place for identifying young people who were at risk of suicide or were dealing with mental health problems, but intervention once a problem was identified could be episodic and fragmented.
“CDRT reviews of suicide deaths identified that the majority of school-aged young people who died by suicide were known to mental health or related support services,” he said.
“In NSW, demand for access to developmentally appropriate specialist mental health services for children and young people regularly outstrips the capacity to supply timely services.”
Mr Miller said the CDRT recommended the State include specific measures targeted at school-aged children and young people in any suicide prevention plan and direct more funds to address gaps in the delivery of appropriate mental health services for young people.
The CDRT’s 103-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
