Supportive practices for young people in out-of-home care who are at risk of suicidality

Suicide is the leading cause of death for young Australians aged 15–24 years and the fifth leading cause of death for children aged 1–14 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2021). Evidence suggests children and young people in out-of-home care (OOHC) are almost five times more likely to display suicidal behaviour than peers with no OOHC involvement (Russell, Trew, & Higgins, 2021). This short article summarises the evidence for two core interventions that significantly decreased suicidality and might support practitioners when working with children and young people displaying suicidal behaviours.