The aim of this report is to provide insights from recent research and clinical cases about how our responses to suicidal youth known to the child protection system can be improved and ideally lower the rate of suicide in this group. There are two compelling reasons why this topic is extremely important. Firstly, there are very large numbers of Australian children in contact with child protection services. Indeed, in the year 2019-20, 1 in 33 Australian children were in contact with child protection services which equates to 174,700 children. Secondly, from an Australian mortality perspective, suicide is the leading cause of death in Australian among 7 to 17-year-olds. Suicide is responsible for approximately one third of mortality in that age group.
A significant correlate of completed suicide is having a mental health disorder, with approximately 1 in 50 Australian youth experience at least one mental health disorder. High-risk groups include Indigenous Australians; where the suicide rate is 4 to 12 times higher than the non-Indigenous rate. Young people in juvenile justice are at high risk and those who abuse alcohol or substances. This report will very clearly detail a significantly higher risk in children with an adverse childhood experience (ACE). ACEs include the experience of verbal, physical and sexual abuse, and physical and emotional neglect. The report will detail the complexity of some of these interactions. For example, there is a direct effect from abuse to suicidal thinking, as well as indirect effect from abuse to disengagement with school, lower educational and employment outcomes, self-medication with drugs and alcohol, and cumulative stresses that lead to suicidal thinking.