GIULIA Jones says a Legislative Assembly Committee will investigate the issues surrounding the rising rate of youth suicide in the ACT.

“I’m greatly concerned that suicide rates more than doubled from 2012 to 2013 in the ACT. It’s even more alarming that a third of young people aged 15-25 who died in the ACT in 2013 died as a result of suicide,” Giulia said.

“While the cost of suicide in the ACT stood at $24 million in 2012, the emotional and social burden on the community, on families and on carers is immeasurable.

“I regularly hear from members of the community who battle for years to get mental health help in our city, who try every avenue and who come up against barriers at every turn.

“I fear we’re letting our young people down. There has been a 650 per cent increase in deaths resulting from self-harm, when comparing 12 and 13 year olds with 14 and 15 year olds from 2007 to 2012.

“It’s critical that we examine this issue and put measures in place to prevent further youth suicide tragedies in our community,” Mrs Jones concluded.