Young people

Suicide is the leading cause of death for young people in Australia.¹

Research from 2023 indicates:

around 7.5% of all young people aged 12 to 17 experience suicidal ideation, with female rates more than double that of young males
26% of females aged 14 to 17 reported they have engaged in self-harm, compared with 9% of young males
rates have increased over time, with young females accounting for much of this growth.²

These statistics highlight the urgent need for responsive aftercare services for young people.

There is limited access to youth aftercare services in NSW. Mainstream providers need to consider the specific needs of young people accessing their services.

Build partnerships with schools and educational providers, and other key youth organisations (e.g. headspace) to promote referral pathways, enable access to aftercare and consistency of support.

Risk factors and challenges

Young people may face challenges that can put them at increased risk of suicide, including:³

bullying and interpersonal conflict
stigma associated with mental health concerns, distress and thoughts of self-harm and suicide
exploration of independence, self-identity, gender identity and sexuality
experience of childhood trauma and/or family domestic violence
increased feelings of isolation
lack of control about life decisions due to age
emotion dysregulation and high levels of distress, without the skills to manage this
misuse of alcohol and/or drugs.

Some factors also act as barriers to accessing support, including aftercare services, such as:

communication methods not being specifically tailored with, and for, young people
clinic or office-based settings where young people need to wait, or where appointments are not flexible with availability, e.g. outside of school hours
waiting to access a service while feeling distressed
family conflict that leaves young people without support or resources to seek help, attend appointments, or adapt to changes in availability
poor intergenerational mental health literacy, affecting how carers or guardians respond to a young person’s distress, or refusal to provide consent for mental health care.

Considerations

Young people want to be active participants in their care, rather than ‘fitting in’ to existing programs that may not respond to their individual needs and circumstances. Below are some key considerations for adapting service delivery to support individualised needs.

Building trust and a safe environment

Be flexible. Take the time to get to know the young person and build a trusting relationship.
Young people are experts in their own experience – listen to this and treat them accordingly.
Recognise the importance of positive role models across their support networks.
Use peer workers that young people can relate to. Stories can be very powerful, hopeful and inspiring.
Prioritise inclusivity in both practice and language, e.g. signs and signals indicating that services are a safe space, such as Aboriginal acknowledgement of Country and artwork, LGBTIQA+ flags, inclusive language, access to interpreters and other considerations for adjustments.
Have structured processes for using co-production methods where young people are partners at each level – from their own individual care and support, through to youth advisory groups or similar governance structures, where applicable.
Employ a strength-based approach reflecting each young person’s passions and interests. Focus on capacity building and resilience rather than difficulties and clinical labels.

Adapt to meet their needs

Find times and places to meet that best suit the young person and strengthen engagement.
Tailor communication methods to suit the young person, e.g. messaging apps.
Involve family members, carers, friends and kin; and recognise their importance in a young person’s life. Provide them with information and strategies to support the young person (with consent).
Understand the intersectionality of young people's experiences; particularly Aboriginal, LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse and neurodiverse people. These populations are at an even higher risk of suicide.
Get comfortable with discomfort. It is normal to want to minimise or eliminate a young person’s suffering, but being able to sit in discomfort with them (rather than defaulting to problem-solving mode) helps to validate young people and treat them equally.

Recommended resources

Fact sheets

Self-harm
A fact sheet dispelling common myths surrounding self-harm and summarising evidence on self-harm.
Source: Orygen

Suicide ideation
A fact sheet addressing the misconception that asking young people about suicidal thoughts or behaviours will only put ideas in their heads.
Source: headspace

Youth peer support and youth mental health
A fact sheet for peer workers, clinicians, service leaders and young people, providing an overview of youth peer support in mental health settings.
Source: Orygen

Other mental health topics
Fact sheets on mental health topics, including personality disorders, self-help, treatment options, and strategies for managing emotions and distress.
Source: Project Air, University of Wollongong

Other resources

Rainbow resource for mental healthcare
Offers guidance for mental health clinicians to understand the needs of LGBTIQ+ young people and effectively support their mental health and wellbeing through affirming, best-practice care.
Source: Agency for Clinical Innovation

Self-harm resources for consumers
Information for consumers about how to manage self-harm urges; how to support someone who self-harms; and services that provide support.
Source: ReachOut Australia

Suicide resources for consumers
Information for consumers about how to manage suicidal thoughts; support others who may be struggling; create safety plans; and seek out services.
Source: ReachOut Australia

Australian Youth Self Harm Atlas
A study investigating regional variability in suicidality and self-harm, as well as risk and protective factors, for young people aged 12 to 17 years.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Understanding and dealing with suicide
Provides guidance on the warning signs of suicide; how to support someone thinking about suicide; and strategies for staying safe and managing suicidal thoughts.
Source: headspace