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The wave of reported suicides include three cases in Western Australia, one in Queensland, and the most recent one in South Australia.
Meanwhile, a 12-year-old boy was flown on Monday from Roma to Brisbane where he is on life support in hospital after what is thought to be a suicide attempt, according to The Australian.
The five most recent cases began on January 3 when a 15-year-old from Western Australia who was visiting relatives in Queensland was admitted to hospital after self harming. She died two days later as a result of her injuries.
On January 4, in South Hedland in Western Australia, a 12-year-old girl took her own life, while two days later on January 6, a 14-year-old girl in the Kimberley region of the Northern Territory also died from suicide.
A 15-year-old girl from Perth's south also took her own life on January 10 and the most recent case out of the five occured in South Australia on January 11.
Head of the Federal Government's indigenous critical response team Gerry Georgatos said that poverty and lack of education were identified as factors leading to the deaths, but added that sexual assaults were behind one-third of cases.
The wave of reported suicides include three cases in Western Australia, one in Queensland, and the most recent one in South Australia
Indigenous lawyer Hannah McGlade has advised the UN High Commission for Human Rights in Geneva and said there is a clear link between child sexual assault, family violence, and the high levels of indigenous girls and women who were taking their own lives.
'Last year the UN highlighted the level of violence against indigenous women and girls in Australia and called for a specific national action plan,' Dr McGlade told The Australian.
'The people funded to provide suicide prevention plans are not properly addressing the level of sexual violence suffered by our women and girls.'
If you need help call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au. Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800
TIMELINE OF TRAGEDY
JANUARY 3: Girl, 15, from Western Australia self-harms in Queensland and dies two days later.
JANUARY 4: Girl, 12, kills herself in Western Australia.
JANUARY 6: Girl, 14, commits suicide in the Northern Territory.
JANUARY 10: Girl, 15, dies from suicide in Perth.
January 11: Girl, 12, kills herself in a community near Adelaide.
Comment: It's notable that these child suicides are occurring to Australia's indigenous community, as well as it happening just after Christmas and New Year, a period celebrated by the majority of Australians, and, while there are surely other factors involved, some of those noted in the article above, another important one to consider would be that of "social/behavioural contagion" which seems to play a part in these waves of unusual behaviours:
- Social contagion: Three confused middle school boys undergo sex change therapy together
- Social contagion: Is transgender the new anorexia?
- The best explanation for mass shootings: Social contagion
- Wave of suicide sweeps China's graduate class
- Bridgend, suicide and the internet: the facts
For more on the topic, check out SOTT radio's: The Truth Perspective: The Strange Contagion: How Viral Thoughts and Emotions Secretly Control Us