Statistics show spike in suicide-related calls to Kids Helpline

Data shows suicide-related contacts to the helpline have risen by 22 per cent nation-wide since 2012.

In WA, there has been an 8 per cent increase between 2015 and 2017, with web chat correspondence skyrocketing by 115 per cent.

Based on South West postcodes, the numbers show there was an average of 72 counselling contacts per year.

A WA Country Health Service spokesperson said suicide was a serious issue, which the service kept a close watch on.

The service was unable to release data from the last three years due to it not being ratified and confidentiality issues. 

However, in the South West, suicide was the leading cause of death for 15 to 24-year-old males and females between 2006 and 2015, causing 19 deaths in the 2011 to 2015 period.

These figures are 1.4 times the state average.

Lamp Inc youth program manager Paula Farley told the Mail the organisation hadn’t seen an increase in suicide among who it supported, but more youth were accessing support in both an intervention and prevention capacity.

“We do see a lot of concerns in regards to suicide ideation, however, the increase in statistics I think is the stigma lessening, people are willing to talk and are finding it much easier to access support,” she said.

“Rather than an increase in issues, what I feel on the floor in the community is people are not suffering in silence as much anymore.”

yourtown chief executive officer Tracy Adams said while it was great that children and young people were reaching out, there was a lot more communities could do to put in place strategies and resources that could save young lives.

“Suicide is the leading cause of death of children and young people in Australia accounting for more deaths than motor vehicle accidents. Accepting this statistic is simply not an option,” she said.

“Australia needs a specific, youth suicide prevention strategy. This means every state agreeing to a plan to oversee and coordinate activity to prevent and treat suicide that recognises children and young people are not just small adults. 

“Early intervention is key to prevention and to supporting lifelong mental health and wellbeing. This means delivering more outreach services and services such as headspace, a service currently inaccessible to children younger than 12.”