[Greens-Media] Federal Government must lead efforts to address the high rate of suicide amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

[Redman, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

28 November 2014 

Federal Government must lead efforts to address the high rate of suicide amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

The Australian Greens have called on the Federal Government to lead efforts to address the high rate of suicide among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

"Obviously the suicide of any child is awful, and is a sign that things aren't right and need action. We particularly need action on the figures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. People will be shocked by reports that the suicide rate among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is double for ages four to nine and five times higher for teenagers," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues said today

"The reality of National Children's Commissioner Megan Mitchell's report is appalling and shows the need for urgent action to support children and communities and address the factors that are leading to suicide and poor mental health.

"We also know there are often serious problems with the reporting and data on suicide and self-harm, meaning this problem could be much greater that current statistics suggest.

"Addressing suicide and mental health, particularly among children, is a crucial part of closing the gap.

"There needs to be fundamental changes to the approach we take to addressing suicide and the underlying factors that contribute to it. We need to focus on community developed and owned, driven and managed programs that have the full support of state and Federal Governments.

"The work undertaken by Professor Pat Dungeon and others in the Hear Our Voices report identifies the importance of community driven cultural programs that create empowerment and addressing the underlying factors that contribute to poor mental health and suicide.

"I am calling on the Government to reflect on budget cuts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and their chaotic funding process for the new Indigenous Advancement Strategy, given the threat they pose to front-line services that are essential for closing the gap," Senator Siewert concluded.

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