The Commissioner commends the Draft Regional Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan but stressed the lack of a the mention of children and young people within the plan and recommended:
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- Identifying younger children as a priority population who experience mental health issues;
- Looking at actions to ameliorate any potential impacts of Australia’s Social Media ban on children, particularly the risks of the further isolation children and young people living in regional areas;
- Embedding child safe environment principles into all priorities consistent with legislation;
- Partnering with schools and youth organisations to protect and support children and young people who are developing/experiencing mental health issues; and
- Engaging and collaborating with children and young people to develop solutions to protect their mental health and prevent future mental health issues.
