The Final Report on Reducing Youth Suicide in Queensland was released last week by the Commission for Young People and Child Guardian. It shows that suicide is the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 17 for the second year in a row. Shockingly it also reveals the suicide of a child, aged between five years and nine years in the past year, the first in that age bracket since reporting of child deaths began in 2004.

Queensland consistently had the highest rate of youth suicide in the nation between 2004 and 2011. It has been increasing since 2004. This is an issue that the whole community needs to address. Here on the Fraser Coast we have a number of organisations such as Headspace that work directly with youth at risk of self harm. There are also a number of national services that provide 24 hour help lines such as KidsHelpline (1800 55 1800) and Lifeline (13 11 14).

I don’t know if there is much worse that could be said for a society than that suicide is the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 17 – a time that should be filled with hope and optimism.

George Seymour

Youthcare Hervey Bay