❓ Hon Lynn MacLaren asks the Minister for Mental Health about suicide rates among teenage girls in WA, referencing national ABS data. The Minister acknowledges the issue and refers to an Ombudsman's report highlighting contributing factors and the role of the State Coroner in data collection.
AnsweredQoN 1009Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SUICIDE —
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS DATA
1009. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to national figures released by the Australian Bureau
of Statistics in March 2014 on causes of death among Australians.
(1) Is the minister aware that nearly one-third of all deaths
among girls aged 15 to 19 are from suicide?
(2) Is the
minister aware of any information to suggest that suicide rates among 15 to
19-year-old girls in WA may be this high?
(3) If yes to (2), what does the minister think is driving
this?
(4) Can the minister provide a regional breakdown across WA
of suicide rates among teenage girls?
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS DATA
1009. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the
Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to national figures released by the Australian Bureau
of Statistics in March 2014 on causes of death among Australians.
(1) Is the minister aware that nearly one-third of all deaths
among girls aged 15 to 19 are from suicide?
(2) Is the
minister aware of any information to suggest that suicide rates among 15 to
19-year-old girls in WA may be this high?
(3) If yes to (2), what does the minister think is driving
this?
(4) Can the minister provide a regional breakdown across WA
of suicide rates among teenage girls?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) Yes.
(2) Western
Australian coronial statistics are not reported on specifically for 15 to
19-year-olds. The Ombudsman Western Australia has highlighted that suicide is
the leading cause of preventable deaths for teenagers. In April 2014, the
Ombudsman tabled the report, ''Investigation into ways that State
government departments and authorities can prevent or reduce suicide by young
people''. This report reviewed the suicides of 36 young people who were
aged 14 to 17 years at the time of death. Among the 36 young people, 22, or 61 per
cent, were male and 14, or 39 per cent, were female.
(3) Multiple
factors for suicide were highlighted in the Ombudsman's report,
including: mental health problems, including diagnosed mental illness and/or
self-harming behaviour; suicidal ideation and behaviour; substance use;
experiencing child maltreatment; and adverse family experiences.
(4) All
suspected deaths by suicide are reported to the WA State Coroner, who is
responsible for the final determination of the cause of each death. The WA
State Coroner, through the Attorney General, would need to be approached to
ascertain any response to the information requested.
(1) Yes.
(2) Western
Australian coronial statistics are not reported on specifically for 15 to
19-year-olds. The Ombudsman Western Australia has highlighted that suicide is
the leading cause of preventable deaths for teenagers. In April 2014, the
Ombudsman tabled the report, ''Investigation into ways that State
government departments and authorities can prevent or reduce suicide by young
people''. This report reviewed the suicides of 36 young people who were
aged 14 to 17 years at the time of death. Among the 36 young people, 22, or 61 per
cent, were male and 14, or 39 per cent, were female.
(3) Multiple
factors for suicide were highlighted in the Ombudsman's report,
including: mental health problems, including diagnosed mental illness and/or
self-harming behaviour; suicidal ideation and behaviour; substance use;
experiencing child maltreatment; and adverse family experiences.
(4) All
suspected deaths by suicide are reported to the WA State Coroner, who is
responsible for the final determination of the cause of each death. The WA
State Coroner, through the Attorney General, would need to be approached to
ascertain any response to the information requested.
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