Mother whose son died by suicide urges mental health system to listen
A mother whose son Felix died by suicide is calling NT health workers to listen and act on warning signs.
Felix, 16, first attempted suicide at age 12. Over the following years, his mother Gertrude Jane-Knight reached out repeatedly for help, only to be told repeatedly that nothing was wrong.
"I was constantly having the door shut, or appointments weren't ready," she said at a suicide prevention forum in Darwin this week. Felix died on November 3rd last year.
This year would have been his 17th birthday. At the forum, Jane-Knight urged mental health professionals to believe parents, make timely referrals, and connect families with existing services.
The Northern Territory has Australia's highest rates of suicide, acute mental illness, and hospital visits for self-harm. The Royal Darwin Hospital youth mental health ward was found to pose serious risks to staff and patients in 2024.
- 16 years old
- Felix's age at death
- November 3rd last year
- Date of death
- Highest in Australia
- NT suicide rate
- Around 40 people
- Forum speakers
Why it mattersParents reaching out for help are being turned away when their children are most at risk. Better listening and referrals could make a difference.
AustraliaThe NT faces the nation's worst youth mental health crisis. Better listening and referral systems could save lives in a territory where suicide rates are double the national average.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 12 d ago
