A 16-year-old has stabbed himself while in isolation at Don Dale

A teenager has attempted to take his own life in Don Dale on two separate occasions in past week, according to his family.

A 16-YEAR-OLD at Don Dale Youth Detention Centre stabbed himself and was left alone in a cell, according to his family.

The NT News understands the teenager was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) on two separate occasions in the last week for injuries from self-harming.

The family said the 16-year-old attempted to take his own life on Friday and they were notified by police on Saturday.

According to the family, he was taken to RDH.

They said that after being discharged from RDH he was placed in isolation at Don Dale.

On Sunday, the same boy stabbed himself before being taken to hospital again.

A spokeswoman for Territory Families Minister Kate Worden confirmed a young person required medical treatment on Sunday night after “sustaining an injury”.

The spokeswoman said it was not a suicide attempt but confirmed the young person had stabbed themselves.

She said the 16-year-old was now receiving support at Don Dale.

“In order to protect the privacy of young people in detention, the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities cannot share confidential personal information,” the spokeswoman said.

“An expert team has discussed the future care needs of this young person and is ensuring every effort is taken to support them including providing advice to their family.”

The NT News understands social services attempted to visit the young person early Tuesday morning following multiple inquiries regarding his welfare but he had been again taken to RDH.

It is understood the young person has now been admitted to the Youth Inpatient facility at Royal Darwin Hospital for mental health support and care

Danila Dilba chief executive Rob McPhee said his organisation was contracted to provide primary health care to young people in Don Dale but increased numbers had services stretched.

“We are deeply concerned regarding the recent incident of self-harm at Don Dale. This is a clear indication of the stressful environment detention can cause for young people and the impact on their social and emotional wellbeing,” he said.

“It is well-known that Don Dale is not a therapeutic or rehabilitative facility. It is a prison.”

Mr McPhee said preventing detention was always the best outcome, but the climbing rates of self-harm inside Don Dale reflected the need for a more suitable, well-resourced and supportive environment.

In March, the NT News exclusively reported that there had been a 150 per cent rise in the number of self-harming incidents over a year, with experts warning it was only a matter of time before a death inside Don Dale.

Territory Families statistics confirmed there were 54 episodes of self-harm or suicide while inside Don Dale from July to December 2021 - compared to just eight over the same period in 2020.

The NT News understands there have been numerous serious attempted suicides this year.

The increase in self-harming rates mirrors a skyrocketing rate of children remanded or sentenced to Don Dale.

Figures released by the Office of the Children’s Commission NT show the number of individual children entering detention in the NT has grown by 200 per cent in two years.

Originally published as A 16-year-old has stabbed himself while in isolation at Don Dale