As we observe World Suicide Prevention Day, we must confront the devastating reality that suicide remains a significant cause of death in prison. Of the 63 deaths in prison custody in 2021–22 where the manner of death was recorded, one-quarter (25%) were deaths from suicide or self- inflicted causes. This horrifying statistic speaks to the broader systemic violence perpetuated by the prison system.
‘Prisons kill, and they kill with impunity. Both children and adults are dying at the hands of a system designed to punish. Just last month, a 17-year-old boy died by suicide in a children’s prison at Banksia Hill Youth Detention Centre. Unforgivably, this marks the second death in custody of a child within 12 months. The loss is staggering, and the state remains accountable for these tragedies,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘This week, we were contacted by a grieving family whose loved one died by suicide while on home detention. The violence of the carceral state extends beyond the prison walls, leaving families devastated and burdened by the trauma of losing a loved one to a system that should never have ensnared them,’ said Tabitha Lean.
‘In April, we were confronted with yet another harrowing story: a 10-year-old First Nations boy died in an apparent suicide while in state care in Western Australia. These stories are not isolated incidents—they reflect the profound failures of a carceral system that disproportionately targets the most vulnerable members of our society,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘As we hear organisations and politicians speak about World Suicide Prevention Day, we must remain critical. What we won’t hear are the real solutions. What we won’t hear are calls to address the root causes: poverty, incarceration rates, inadequate housing, domestic and family violence, systemic racism, and the lack of accessible health care,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
‘If we are serious about preventing suicide, we must be serious about dismantling the systems that perpetuate this violence. We must address the entire prison industrial complex—from child ‘welfare’ to adult incarceration,’ said Debbie Kilroy.
It’s not enough to talk about prevention; we need action.
- Raise the rates for people on welfare.
- Address income insecurity through a Guaranteed Liveable Basic Income.
- Accessible health care
- Affordable housing, and accessible public housing
- Work towards decarceration and the wholesale abolition of prisons and policing.
Without addressing these fundamental issues, our commitment to preventing suicide in this country is hollow. On this World Suicide Prevention Day, the National Network urge leaders to move beyond rhetoric and take real, bold action toward real justice.
For further comment, please contact Debbie Kilroy on 0419 762 474 or Tabitha Lean on 0499 780 226
