Rhianna Whittington, 16, died by suicide while in state care in SA

Rhianna Whittington lost her dad and brother to suicide within months of each other. Two years later the distraught teenager took her own life.

Teenager Rhianna Whittington’s life came to a tragic end, alone in a public park.

The distressed and lonely 16-year-old had lost her father and brother to suicide within months of each other.

She was far away from the friends she grew up with in Western Australia and she had experienced trauma no child should endure.

On June 21 last year, Rhianna was discovered by a member of the public after taking her own life not far from the government-run home where she lived in Whyalla.

At the time she was under state care but her death was not made public by authorities who say they did not want to cause further distress to the young people she was living with.

Rhianna has been remembered by friends on Facebook as “beautiful” and “always loved”.

One of her earliest friends in WA, Tegen Roberts, wrote on the day Rhianna died: “This post breaks my heart my first best friend the person that claimed me at the beginning and now I have to say good bye Rest In Peace beautiful I will always love you endlessly.”

Rhianna Whittington took her life in June 2022, aged just 16. Picture: Facebook

Rhianna had spent time in Ceduna after moving to SA and her funeral was held there on July 15 last year.

She had been in state care for about six months prior to her death.

During that time she was frequently reported missing by workers who cared for her at the Department for Child Protection (DCP) house and she had made comments about self-harm.

Her father had died by suicide in May, 2020, and her older brother took his life five months later.

Suicide remains the leading cause of death among young Australians and Rhianna is not the first child to take their life in care in SA.

Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard said she was “immediately notified” about Rhianna’s death last year but it was not made public “based on strong advice about the harm it would cause to children and young people around her”.

“Prior to her death I was provided regular updates about the intensive efforts the department was employing to support her, about what she had sadly experienced and the complex behaviours and issues she was dealing with,” Ms Hildyard said.

“I was so saddened by all she had gone through and by her death.

“DCP staff formed strong relationships with her and were committed to doing all they could to protect her from further harm.

“Despite all of the supports in place and the dedicated efforts to keep her safe, regrettably, this young person decided to end her life. This shows the unpredictable nature of suicide and the devastating impact on those left behind.”

Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard and Department for Child Protection chief executive Jackie Bray. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

SA Police and a spokeswoman for the Coroner’s Court have confirmed Rhianna’s death is the subject of a coronial investigation.

DCP chief executive Jackie Bray said the young girl had “experienced significant trauma” before coming into state care.

Agencies including DCP, police, health and education had been involved in the “high-level of co-ordinated, intensive support in place” for her.

“The tragic death of this young woman is absolutely devastating for her family, the other young people with whom she lived, her friends and the staff who cared for her,” said Ms Bray, who took over DCP last month.

“Children and young people in care, who have suffered significant trauma, are especially vulnerable when they have a history of harm and neglect.

“Sadly, suicide can be unpredictable and despite supports being in place, tragically, it is not known exactly what may have been in a person’s mind at a particular moment in time.”

Last year The Advertiser launched the Can We Talk campaign to raise awareness of youth suicide and encourage young people to talk about their mental health.

The campaign revealed that between 2011 and 2020, 114 young people aged five to 19 took their lives in SA.

There were no fewer than six deaths recorded in any year and the number peaked at 16 in 2011 and again in 2020.

The highest rates of deaths were in Adelaide’s northern suburbs and the state’s far north and south-east.

The state government has convened a 15-member panel tasked with delivering a statewide Suicide Prevention Plan.

The Advertiser has previously reported that deaths of children in state care, or who have had contact with DCP at some point during their lives, have not been publicly acknowledged.

The deaths of more than 60 children in the past four years – from all causes – were revealed after DCP was made to release information through Freedom of Information requests or coronial inquests.

Ms Hildyard has said she is open to releasing more data on deaths of children known to her department but would “have to weigh up” providing more information against the requirements of police investigations and family privacy.

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Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800