One third of Australian teenagers have experienced suicidal thoughts in the last 12 months, according to a government report published on Tuesday (Aug. 19).
The report, which was compiled by the government agency the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), revealed that 34 percent of Australians aged between 14 and 19 reported suicidal thoughts and behaviors in the last year.
It said that 38 percent of females within that age bracket and 31 percent of males experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviors in the last 12 months.
The report is based on data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC), a major survey conducted by the AIFS that has tracked the development of 10,000 children and their families since 2004.
According to the new data, suicidal thoughts, planning and attempts peak at age 16-17 for females before declining. The peak was also at age 16-17 for males but remained steady until age 18-19.
The report said that nine percent of males aged 14-19 attempted suicide without previous suicidal thoughts or planning compared to six percent of females.
"This research shows that suicidal thoughts and behaviours in young people are complex, unpredictable, and often don't follow a linear path," Agatha Faulkner, senior survey manager at AIFS, said in a statement.
"Some young people attempt suicide without prior ideation or planning, which can understandably be a shock for their families and friends. For males in our study, this peaked at 14-15 years, showing that mental health interventions should start very early on."
A separate report published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) in April said that suicide was the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15-24 and 25-44 in 2023.
(Source: Xinhua)
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