Kids Helpline is seeing a significant increase in suicide related contacts requiring an urgent “duty of care” response. yourtown CEO, Tracy Adams, said Kids Helpline provided 4,608 duty of care interventions between 1 July 2022 to 30 th June 2023.
“Of these duty of care responses, 2,000 were undertaken where young people were at immediate risk of suicide and required emergency intervention. This is higher than we have ever experienced,” Ms Adams continued.
“A duty of care intervention is where Kids Helpline contacts police, child safety or ambulance when a child or young person is deemed to be at imminent risk,” said Ms Adams.
“We need to take this opportunity to raise awareness of suicide and to promote action that will reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts by children and young children. “Our hope is to encourage conversations and spread awareness in an effort to prevent youth suicide,” Ms Adams continued.
Kids Helpline is Australia’s only national 24/7 counselling and support service specifically for children and young people aged between 5 and 25 years. Free call 1800 55 1800 or visit www.kidshelpline.com.au