Self-harm and Suicidal Behaviour in Children (Call for Submissions)

This is something that each of you should know about.
In addition, I am sure the Australian Commissioner for Children would be interested in submissions about personal experience of self-harm, and your experience of helping services.
Please feel free to circulate this to anyone you think may want to say something.

https://www.humanrights.gov.au/intentional-self-harm-and-suicidal-behaviour-children

The following is taken from the Call for Submissions.

SUBMISSIONS
Submissions are sought from interested individuals, government, private, and non- government organisations, on the issue of children and young people under 18 years engaging in intentional self-harm and suicidal behaviour. Of particular interest is:

1. Why children and young people engage in intentional self-harm and suicidal behaviour.
   
2. The incidence and factors contributing to contagion and clustering involving children and young people.
   
3. The barriers which prevent children and young people from seeking help.

4. The conditions necessary to collect comprehensive information which can be reported in a regular and timely way and used to inform policy, programs and practice. This may include consideration of the role of Australian Government agencies, such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
   
5. The impediments to the accurate identification and recording of intentional self- harm and suicide in children and young people, the consequences of this, and suggestions for reform.
   
6. The benefit of a national child death and injury database, and a national reporting function.
   
7. The types of programs and practices that effectively target and support children and young people who are engaging in the range of intentional self-harm and suicidal behaviours. Submissions about specific groups are encouraged, including children and young people who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, those who are living in regional and remote communities, those who are gender variant and sexuality diverse, those from culturally diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, and refugee children and young people seeking asylum. De-identified case studies are welcome.
   
8. The feasibility and effectiveness of conducting public education campaigns aimed at reducing the number of children who engage in intentional self-harm and suicidal behaviour.
   
9. The role, management and utilisation of digital technologies and media in preventing and responding to intentional self-harm and suicidal behaviour among children and young people.
   

Submissions are welcome on any of these issues. Submissions will be made public unless the person making the submission requests that it not be made public or the Australian Human Rights Commission considers it should not be made public.