Tragic Suicide of a Ten-Year-Old
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (342175)
Rockingham, Australia
March 9, 2016 6:33am CST
Last Sunday, while we were enjoying a barbecue with friends, a 10-year-old indigenous Australian committed suicide in an isolated bush community in Western Australia's north. The incident happened in the remote aboriginal settlement of Looma. There has been a spike in indigenous suicide rates in the state since Christmas with at least 19 deaths being recorded.
It is tragic to think that such young people have such a feeling of hopelessness that they would take their own lives. The girl had been living with her aunt and uncle and child welfare authorities had been monitoring the situation.
Acute poverty, sexual, physical and mental abuse and domestic violence are all factors which impact on remote aboriginal communities, just as they do in other areas of society. Government services are being mobilised and a large-scale inquest is being planned to try to address this growing and tragic problem. At the moment, the answers seem to shrouded in mist.
48 people like this
35 responses
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
10 Mar 16
how sad that one so young would think that was her only option
5 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Mar 16
@JudyEv 2 sisters? they need to get him out and get him help
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 16
@Jessicalynnt Often they seem to think leaving them with 'family' is better than putting them among strangers. He is with his aunt and uncle.
1 person likes this
@suziecat7 (3350)
• Asheville, North Carolina
9 Mar 16
Poor child - breaks my heart. I hate that this is happening and hope the authorities are able to do something.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 16
Certainly it has upset many people. I don't know quite how they'll combat it.
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
9 Mar 16
i didn't wish to 'like' this, ms. judy 's the news'f such jest saddens my heart greatly. 19 so far this year?? i hope that the government services find answers 'n quick. 
3 people like this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 16
@crazyhorseladycx It is very similar here I think. Abuse and addiction of various kinds are all too common.
3 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
9 Mar 16
I hate hearing stuff like this, how horrible. 19 deaths since Christmas. Are you saying these are all sucides?
4 people like this
@much2say (56087)
• Los Angeles, California
10 Mar 16
Oh my. My daughter just turned 11 - I can't imagine a 10 year old even thinking of taking their own life like that. What goes on behind closed doors just does not help these poor kids. How tragic and I hope the government can step in to do something about this.2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
9 Mar 16
It is unthinkable that a child would be able to do this, much less think about it.
There are no words for what kind of circumstance would create this.
What is happening to the poor aboriginals..
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
10 Mar 16
@JudyEv God it is really unfathomable poor little soul.
2 people like this
@Sheilamarie78 (2586)
• Canada
10 Mar 16
That is really sad. It's tragic that a child should have to bear the weight of so much history. Poor little one.
2 people like this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
10 Mar 16
When i was in campus students used to kill themselves in the nearby bush. It was such a sad situation. I wish they would stop and realize how much the world has in tore for them
2 people like this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
11 Mar 16
@JudyEv Well there is some truth to the problem but it ends up hurting those left behind
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
10 Mar 16
I hope that something can be done to help those people. What an awful thing!
2 people like this
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
23 Jun 16
I saw this when I was commenting to you comment on my post. Wow, only 10 what is happening in the world? Why are younger people doing this, it so sad, so sad to end your life before it's begun.
1 person likes this
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
27 Jun 16
@JudyEv Yes totally, you not seen the world or know that much about it. It's very sad indeed to little there is no future for you.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (52079)
• Philippines
10 Mar 16
This is horrible, he had so much coming for him. wished he had guidance or a guardian at least.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Mar 16
She was living with her aunt and uncle but it seems it wasn't enough.
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
10 Mar 16
The indigenous people of Australia, like the indigenous Native American tribes in the USA, have been mostly mistreated by the "invaders" of their country. They have often been pushed aside and forced to live lives very different than what they first had.
I have written several articles about the American tribal people and posted a few here on MyLot. My heart aches for anyone who has been mistreated. This child may also have been mistreated by members of her own family.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
11 Mar 16
@JudyEv I have read a lot about the aborigines of Australia and I am very aware of their situation, as I am of the American tribal people. I visited the Lakota Sioux Reservation in South Dakota several years ago and was appalled by what I learned there. We were there for two weeks and were able to talk to many of them about the Bible and what hope there is for the future.
We had Bible- based literature to distribute to them, in their language, and they were very thankful to receive it. Many of them had told us how they had been forced to stop speaking their own language and were even abused if they were overheard speaking their language instead of English. School children were beaten for doing so, by the NUNS from the Catholic church who acted as teachers.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342175)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Mar 16
@IreneVincent This (not being allowed to speak their native language) happened in many countries. Colonisation was rarely a good thing.
1 person likes this
