Orygen welcomes the 2014 Australian Human Rights Commission ‘Children’s Rights Report’ which calls for the establishment of a national research agenda for suicide and self-harm.
In her report to Parliament, which was launched this morning in Sydney, National Children’s Commissioner Megan Mitchell called for a ‘national research agenda to underpin policies and interventions for children and young people engaging in intentional self-harm’. A key recommendation of the report is that ‘this should be supported by the soon to be established National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health’.
Intentional self-harm is the leading cause of death among Australian children and young people aged 15-24 years. In 2012 intentional self-harm accounted for 21.9% of deaths in males and 32.6% in females aged between 15-19 years.
Orygen welcomes the report by the National Children’s Commissioner and in particular the recommendation that a national research agenda for suicide prevention be developed. According to Jo Robinson, Senior Research Fellow at Orygen, ‘A strategic approach to suicide research in Australia is long overdue, and we very much welcome the opportunity to take a leading role in the development of this agenda.’
‘We are fully aware that there is insufficient evidence in this area, in particular regarding the effects of novel, internet-based interventions for young people at risk. These types of intervention have the capacity to reach significantly more young people than face-to-face services. We are currently testing a number of novel online and social media based interventions on suicide risk and these will be a strong feature of our future work’.
Orygen looks forward to partnering with the Commission and other key agencies to progress the recommendations detailed in the report.
Professor Patrick McGorry AO, Executive Director of Orygen says, ‘Suicide and intentional self-harm represent an incredible risk to the health and wellbeing of young people in Australia. This report and its recommendations towards the establishment of a national research agenda for suicide and self-harm is a step in the right direction to ensuring that we can develop the best treatments to protect the lives of at risk young people. As in all areas of medicine, research is the key to improving mental health care and allowing those affected by mental ill-health to recover and live full and productive lives.'
Children's Rights Report 2014