Urgent mental health support needed for First Nations children in state care
In response to the tragic death of a 10-year-old Indigenous boy by suicide while in state care last week, leading Indigenous mental health organisations are today calling on Federal and State Governments to urgently invest in social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) and mental health supports for Indigenous children in state care.
“The death of any child by suicide is a tragedy. The death of a child by suicide while in state care, is a national disgrace and an inditement on Australia’s child protection system,” says Tania Brown, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Thirrili.
“Our hearts go out to the child’s family and community. As Indigenous people, our hearts are broken and continue to break every time we lose one of our young ones to suicide, especially when they are in the care of a system that’s supposed to protect them,” says Professor Helen Milroy AM, Chair of Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for Indigenous children and young people. Indigenous people in Australia have the highest suicide rate out of any population globally.
Evidence shows that children removed from families are at a higher risk of suicide, and have an increased likelihood of contact with the criminal legal system.
In the 16 years since Rudd’s Apology, removals of Indigenous children have tripled. First Nations children now represent more than 40% of the total population of all children who have been removed from their parents – a staggering 23,000 children – but represent only 6% of the total population of children in Australia.
“We don’t need another inquiry or Royal Commission; what we need is action. We need to break the cycle of injustice, and that starts with providing Indigenous children with the wellbeing support they need to live well in their communities,” says Donna Murray, Chief Executive Officer, Indigenous Allied Health Australia.
While Government spending on child protection has increased over the last five years, the proportion of expenditure spent on family support and wellbeing has decreased and the proportion of spending given to Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) to deliver this support continues to sit between 0.6%-21%, depending on the state or territory.
“To prevent similar tragedies in the future, we need to be investing more into support services to help children and their families stay well and connected within their communities. These services should be led and operated by First Nations communities, not external contractors,” says Dr Clinton Shultz, Director of First Nations Partnership and Strategy at the Black Dog Institute.
As leading Indigenous SEWB, mental health, and workforce organisations, we call on Federal and State Governments to implement the recommendations from the more than 40 Government reports into Indigenous child protection since the ‘Bringing Them Home’ report in 1997, including:
Increased investment and access to culturally-responsive, community-led support services;
Increased cultural responsiveness training for child protection and mental health workers;
Increased investment to build a more sustainable Indigenous SEWB and mental health workforce.