Suicide has become the second-biggest killer of young Queenslanders, according to a report.
The Queensland Family and Child Commission's annual report into the deaths of children and young people recorded 445 deaths in 2015.
Most of the deaths this year, 309, were caused by diseases or morbid conditions.
But suicide killed 28 young people, more than transport accidents, drownings, assaults or other non-intentional injuries.
"Suicide was the leading external cause of death, occurring at a rate of 2.5 deaths per 100,000 children and young people," the report said.
Suicide was also the leading outright cause of death for 10 to 14-year-olds and 15 to 17-year-olds in 2015.
The report said 15 of the 28 young people who suicided this year were also known to the state's child protection system.
Overall deaths from fatal assaults and neglect have more than doubled from six last year to 14 this year and drowning deaths have also jumped from seven to 16.
Fatal assaults, neglect and drowning were the leading cause of death among children aged five to nine in the state.
The report found young Aboriginal and Torres Islander people were over-represented in every section of the statistics.
They were more than twice as likely to die and three times more likely to commit suicide than young non-indigenous Queenslanders.
Indigenous infants were also almost four times more likely to die sudden unexpected deaths.
However, the young indigenous death rates may even be higher because of difficulties in identifying young indigenous people.
"The extent of any continued under-reporting is not known and it is likely that some undercount of the number of deaths registered as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander continues," the report said.
* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can visit www.vibe.com.au
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