Health NT: Teen suicide rates the highest in the country

Mental health in the NT is a “complexity unfound” anywhere else in Australia, with data showing suicide rates are the highest in the country.

THE NT has failed to address its high rates of suicide, with the latest figures from the Productivity Commission showing the Territory has recorded the highest rates in the country.

The results are particularly alarming for the Territory’s teens, with the suicide rate among those aged 5 to 17 more than double that of the next highest jurisdiction.

Between 2016 and 2020, the rate of teenage suicide was 8.6 per 100,000 people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people also faced significantly higher suicide rates than the rest of the population.

NT Mental Health Coalition chief executive Geoff Radford said there were a number of variables that could be attributed to the high rate of death by suicide.

“Mental health in the NT presents a complexity unfound in other states and territories in Australia due to its geographical vastness, its cultural and linguistic diversity, its concerning social determinants of health and intergenerational trauma experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” he said.

“For young Territorians suffering from mental ill-health it is estimated that 70 per cent do not seek help.

“This number is compounded by the fact that young people aged 15 to 24 years represent 24.6 per cent of admissions to mental health inpatient facilities.”

Mr Radford said there were significant challenges in delivering services to vulnerable young people.

“Widely dispersed and comparatively small, rural and remote populations of the NT are supported by a mental health system that is skewed towards high-intensity services, which are often under resourced and tasked with providing mental health care across vast, isolated regions,” he said.

A statement from the NT government said tackling mental health was a priority, with the disparity in services being targeted.

“The Territory Government recently awarded a tender for a $30m inpatient unit with 18 beds to be built at Royal Darwin Hospital,” it said.

“In addition, we will deliver a $7.5m Stabilisation and Referral Area to provide a therapeutic environment for mental health patients.”

“In partnership with NT PHN, the Territory government provides funding support to a range of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations with mental health and suicide prevention efforts.”

Territorians suffer agonising wait times for surgery

THE Territory has recorded the highest number of ­patients suffering extended wait times for elective surgery in 10 years, according to the Productivity Commission.

In 2020-21, 22.3 per cent of patients in category one, 33.9 per cent of patients in category two and 34.2 per cent of ­patients in category three elective surgeries were on standby longer than the routine wait time.

It was an average total ­increase of 16.6 per cent of patients suffering extremely long wait times, a significant jump of more than double the previous year’s average increase.

The numbers come as the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) called for a national plan to address the backlog of elective surgeries.

“Two years into the pandemic and with a highly vaccinated population means that blanket suspensions of elective surgery should be only used as a last resort,” said AMA president Omar ­Khorshid.

RACS president Sally Langley said elective surgery must be recognised as essential to the wellbeing of ­patients, rather than optional procedures.

“It is surgery to address often life-threatening conditions and conditions that prevent patients from living a normal life because of severe pain or dysfunction,” Dr Langley said.

Darwin River resident Diane Hawkey can attest to the difficulties caused by the delays. Ms Hawkey, 58, suffers from osteoarthritis and has endured extreme pain for months while waiting for total knee replacement surgery.

“I’m in agony,” she said.

“I can’t do as much as I used to do, I can’t cope anymore.”

Without surgery, Ms Hawkey has to rely on the alternative: opioid pain medication.

She said she was “totally dependent” to the point that she started feeling anxious when running low on ­medication.

“What I foresee happening is an absolute disaster, with hundreds of fellow sufferers all addicted to opioids,” she said.

On February 4 the Territory government announced it temporarily paused elective and day surgeries at some NT Health hospitals “as required”.

All emergency surgeries would continue.

An NT Health spokesman maintained the elective surgery postponement was a necessary measure to ease pressure on hospitals as Covid numbers increase.

“This strategy will ensure the resources required to manage acute Covid-19 cases in hospitals are maintained during the current outbreak and that Territorians can continue to access critical care,” he said.

He said NT Health would plan to accommodate elective surgery upon a decrease in Covid case numbers.

“This includes commencing an additional operating theatre at Palmerston Regional Hospital,” the spokesman said.

“Multiple system improvements are also underway to reduce inpatient bed pressures at Royal Darwin Hospital.”

The AMA and RACS are urging for a more immediate plan to prioritise the revival of elective surgery.

Dr Khorshid said it then needed to be “backed by real, long-term funding commitments” that would permanently expand capacity in the public hospital system.

“One-off funding packages and elective surgery blitzes will not be enough to address the impact that the last two years have had on our already stressed health system and its capacity to deliver care for our patients into the future,” Dr Khorshid said.

“The longer we wait to act on essential surgery, the sicker Australians will become and the more expensive their care will be.”

Originally published as Health NT: Teen suicide rates the highest in the country