There has been an alarming increase in deaths by suicide among young people in Victoria in 2024, highlighting the need for urgent and meaningful youth mental health reform in the state.
August data released by the Coroners Court of Victoria yesterday shows that deaths among the 18-24 demographic have increased by 48 per cent compared to the same time last year (from 44 to 65).
That increase is driving a shocking statewide trend – the number of deaths by suicide in Victoria so far this year (527) is 6 per cent higher than the same time in 2023, which recorded the most deaths by suicide the state has seen.
Deaths by suicide in Victoria (18-24):
- 2020: 73
- 2021: 76
- 2022: 67
- 2023: 73
- 2024*: 65 to August
Professor Patrick McGorry, Executive Director at Orygen, said the latest figures demand urgent action.
“We predicted this rise early in the pandemic, including the fact that it would be a delayed effect. It is the tip of the iceberg of the youth mental health crisis that is now in plain sight,” Professor McGorry said.
“This trajectory is completely unacceptable. We are losing between one and two young people every week in Victoria, and nationally it is closer to 10 per week. The terrible fact that two women per week die from family violence prompted a national cabinet meeting and $4.7 billion of funding to stem the tide. We need similar action on youth mental health and suicide.
“These are preventable deaths in so many young people, who leave behind devastated families and friends. We simply cannot continue down this path without drastically changing our approach,” Professor McGorry said.
Victoria released its new suicide prevention and response strategy 2024-34 last week, replacing the 2016–2025 suicide prevention framework. Professor McGorry said it lacks targets and new funding, and is relatively silent on service reform and expansion.
“We urgently need to move beyond strategising and start doing what we already know must be done, which is implementing the evidence-based youth mental health reforms recommended in the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System,” he said.
“These have not been prioritised, with adults remaining the main focus. We need to add youth mental health reform to the revised approach promised by the Minister. We cannot wait any longer because, as the latest Coroners Court data makes devastatingly clear, so many young lives are at stake.”
Professor McGorry said Orygen acknowledges some positive ideas to emerge in the new suicide prevention strategy, but was disappointed the restructure of the infant, child and youth mental health system, as recommended in the Royal Commission, was not mentioned.
“We remain eager to work with the Victorian Government to ensure that the range of megatrends identified in our recent Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health – such as cost of living, climate change, housing insecurity and growing intergenerational inequality – are also addressed.”
Orygen was grateful to see the strategy’s 2024-26 implementation plan included the world-leading #chatsafe postvention program as part of Victoria’s suicide prevention plan until at least 2026.
The postvention program uses social media to connect communities affected by suicide with the #chatsafe guidelines and mental health support details.