Covid-19 lockdown: Kids Helpline says 1000 children feel suicidal

Brisbane Lions AFL player Archie Smith is one of many who has been left “heartbroken and in disbelief’’ after losing a family member to suicide.

A thousand suicidal children have called a hotline for help in the past six months, as the pandemic doubles the number of desperate kids needing an ambulance to hospital.

The snowballing damage to children’s mental health from long-running lockdowns is exposed in shocking new statistics from Kids Helpline.

Its counsellors sought emergency intervention for 1057 suicidal children at risk of “imminent harm’’ between March and August this year.

The number was almost double the 545 calls from children wanting to end their lives during the same period in 2020, at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kids Helpline chief executive Tracy Adams warned that too many children are cooped up with violent families or sexual abusers in lockdown.

She said she felt angry when adults suggest that teenagers “toughen up’’ about Covid-19 restrictions.

“Home isn’t always a safe place,’’ she said.

“Should a child toughen up when they’re being abused, living in a house with family and domestic violence, or being sexually abused by someone in their family?

“As a society we have to toughen up and realise things that are happening to children on our watch.’’

Kids Helpline chief executive Tracy Adams says children are showing “incredible courage’’.

Ms Adams said children as young as nine had called with suicidal thoughts, but high school students seemed the worst affected as they struggle with home schooling and isolation from friends during lockdowns.

“When there’s a war, people live in fear, and our kids are living in fear now,’’ she said.

“The level of distress we would put down to the duration and ongoing nature of the pandemic – it’s scary for them.

“There’s a sense of hopelessness that things won’t go back to the way they were pre-Covid – going to school, sport, birthday parties, seeing family and friends.’’

In NSW, which has endured its longest lockdown this year, counsellors answered 226 calls from kids requiring suicide intervention – up 77 per cent from last year.

In Victoria, the state hardest hit by two years of repeated lockdowns, 417 children called counsellors after self-harming or wanting to suicide – a 161 per cent increase compared to the state’s longest lockdown period last year.

Despite shorter snap lockdowns in Queensland, the number of suicidal children calling for help has soared 57 per cent this year, with counsellors calling ambulances or Child Safety officers to rescue 179 children.

The number of suicide calls from children rose by one-third in South Australia, to 93, and by 133 per cent in Tasmania, to 28.

In Western Australia, the number of suicidal calls from children has almost doubled to 70, with 14 calls in the ACT and six in the Northern Territory this year.

Too many children are cooped up with violent families or sexual abusers in lockdown, Kids Helpline says.

Ms Adams said children were showing “incredible courage’’ in calling Kids Helpline, and urged parents worried about their children’s mental health to contact the hotline.

Lifeline has also revealed a 22 per cent increase in calls since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with nine lives lost to suicide every day.

It will host an Out of the Shadows event online to share hope for those struggling with their mental health, and to help Australians grieving loved ones lost to suicide.

Lifeline chairman John Brogden, himself a suicide survivor, urged people struggling with depression or anxiety to call for a chat with a Lifeline counsellor.

“Those having suicidal thoughts or grappling with mental ill health can often feel alone but they are never alone,’’ he said.

“Please reach out and get the help you need when you need it – it can save your life.’’

Mr Brogden said each life lost to suicide has an impact on 135 people – “every life lost is someone’s brother, sister, son, daughter, friend or colleague’’.

Suicide Prevention Australia reveals in its State of the Nation report today that mental health services are under “great strain’’ from record demand.

Social isolation and loneliness during the pandemic was the top concern of 300 mental health service providers surveyed for the report.

Ninety per cent of providers predicted loneliness would post the most significant risk to suicide rates over the next year.

Eighty per cent felt unemployment and job security would be a risk, with 70 per cent worried about family and relationship breakdowns.

SPA chief executive Nieves Murray said suicide caused a “cascade of grief’’ among family, friends, schools, workplaces and community groups. 

Raj Wilson holding a photo of his daughter Yasmin, who died to suicide in 2019.

Grieving father Raj Wilson, of Melbourne, lost his “caring and sensitive’’ 15-year-old daughter Yasmin to suicide in 2019.

He said Yasmin “hid her mental health challenges’’ from family as well as professional counsellors.

“As Yasmin moved into adolescence she started increasingly feeling anxious, and she was getting counselling support at school and outside of school,’’ he said.

Yasmin, 15, was “caring and sensitive”.

“Nobody anticipated the severity of her mental health challenges – not her loved ones, not the experts.’’

Mr Wilson said he was left “emotionally devastated’’ by his beloved daughter’s death, and urged young people to reach out for help.

“No matter how grim or dark a situation may seem … there’s always help available, so please reach out,’’ he said.

Brisbane Lions AFL player Archie Smith was left “heartbroken and in disbelief’’ after the suicide of his 21-year-old brother Sebastian last year.

“If you see someone down or acting differently ask if they’re OK,’’ he said.

“That could potentially save someone’s life … they could be struggling.’’

Mr Smith urged anyone struggling to “hold on to hope and speak out’’.

“It is a strength and not a weakness to be able to say ‘I’m not OK’ – unfortunately my little brother felt that he could battle this alone … he’s not with us here today,’’ he said.

“You’ve got to let someone know if you’re not OK.’’

Ian Roberts has reflected on his own experiences with mental health.

Ian Roberts called Lifeline during a struggle with his mental health after suffering homophobic attacks when he came out as Australia’s first openly gay professional NRL player in the 1990s.

“No one needs to struggle alone in silence,’’ he said.

“My message to others struggling with mental health is that it is okay to not be okay.

“Call Lifeline – they care and are there to help.’’

Need help?

In an emergency call 000

Lifeline www.lifeline.org.au 13 11 14

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Kids Helpline www.kidshelpline.com.au 1800 55 1800