Warning: this article discusses themes that may be distressing to some readers, including self-harm.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are contacting Kids Helpline about suicide and self-harm at higher rates than other young Australians, according to new data released to coincide with National Kids Helpline Day.
The service responded to 1,832 counselling contacts from First Nations children and young people during the first six months of 2026, representing 8 per cent of all contacts received nationally.
Mental health was the most common reason Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children sought support, accounting for one in four counselling contacts.
Suicide-related concerns were the second most common reason, making up 24 per cent of contacts — significantly higher than the 19 per cent recorded among children and young people who did not identify as First Nations or culturally and linguistically diverse, and more than double the rate for culturally and linguistically diverse young people (11 per cent).
Self-injury and self-harm were also raised more frequently by First Nations children and young people, accounting for 16 per cent of contacts, compared with 11 per cent among other young people and 6 per cent among culturally and linguistically diverse children.
Child abuse concerns were raised in 11 per cent of First Nations counselling contacts, compared with 6 per cent among other children and young people.
The figures form part of Kids Helpline's new Help Us Reach Them campaign, which aims to encourage earlier help-seeking and increase awareness of the free counselling service among young people, families and communities.
Yourtown chief executive Tracy Adams said the organisation was seeing an increase in children and young people presenting in crisis.
"We're really aiming to achieve that we can get to young people around early intervention and prevention, make sure that they're aware of supports available, because we are seeing an increase in crisis presentations. That is concerning," she said.
Nationally, Kids Helpline responded to almost 60,000 contacts between January and June this year, with crisis interventions tracking 26 per cent higher than during the same period in 2025.
Ms Adams said counsellors were now responding to an average of 16 crisis interventions each day involving children or young people considered at imminent risk of harm.
She said the service was on track to respond to more than 6,000 crisis interventions this year.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, she said the data highlighted the seriousness of many of the issues young people were facing.
"In 2025, and again it is showing the same this year, about 8 per cent of all contacts to Kids Helpline are coming from Indigenous children and young people from right across Australia," she said.
"I think firstly, it showcases the trust that young people do have in Kids Helpline."
Ms Adams said the service could play an important role for young people living in regional and remote communities where local support services may be limited.
"In some of these communities, Kids Helpline might be the only space for a young person," she said.
"So it's very important that Elders in those communities, members in our Indigenous communities are aware of Kids Helpline and have the confidence to refer young people to the service."
The data also showed First Nations children and young people were commonly seeking support for family relationship issues alongside mental health concerns, suicide-related distress, self-harm and child abuse, highlighting the complex challenges many were experiencing.
Ms Adams said encouraging children and young people to seek support before reaching crisis point was the central aim of the campaign.
"Crisis obviously is a really difficult time for young people. If we can get to young people and build those strategies... then I think it allows a young person to be able to transition through challenges and difficulties without necessarily having a really long-term impact," she said.
She said adults could make a difference by starting conversations with young people they were worried about and making sure they knew support was available.
"We're really asking people to make sure that if they identify young people who they think may be struggling, start a conversation," she said.
"It can be as easy as asking them, 'I've noticed things might be a little bit different for you. Is there anything I can be here for you on?'"
Ms Adams said she was particularly concerned about the severity of issues being raised by many First Nations children and young people.
"They're really serious contexts and they often are around a young person's safety, so self-harm, very serious mental health complexities," she said.
"I do think it's really important that we are able to ensure that young people in our Indigenous communities really do have the confidence to use Kids Helpline because we are concerned by the serious presentations from many young Indigenous users of the service."
Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800
13 YARN - 13 92 76
Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636
