Suicide prevention guidelines for young people in youth justice detentionsettings in Australia: an expert consensus study

Sanne Oostermeijer; Tony Jamieson; Judith Wright; Anna Ross; Rhiannon Morley; Poni Tongun; Amy Morgan; Nicola Reavley

doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2026.109089

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Suicide prevention guidelines for young people in youth justice detentionsettings in Australia: an expert consensus study

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Suicide prevention guidelines for young people in youth justice detentionsettings in Australia: an expert consensus study

Sanne Oostermeijer, Tony Jamieson, Judith Wright, Anna Ross, Rhiannon Morley, Poni Tongun, Amy Morgan and Nicola Reavley

Children and Youth Services Review, Vol.188, pp.1-10

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2026.109089

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Abstract

Youth justice

Suicide prevention

Juvenile justice

Prison

Custodial officers

Staff training

Adolescents

Youth

Background Given the high risk of suicide for young people in youth justice detention, youth justice staff members will almost certainly have contact with young people who experience suicidal thoughts and behaviours. However, very little is known about how staff can best support these young people. Objective The aim of the current study was to develop best practice guidelines for preventing suicide and reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviours in young people within youth justice detention settings in Australia. Participants and setting A Delphi expert consensus study was conducted with a panel of youth justice professionals (n = 25) and people with lived experience (n = 20) from Australia. Methods The panel rated items across three rounds of questionnaires. All items endorsed by at least 90% of the panel were collated into a final set of guidelines. Results Consensus was reached on 237 of the 313 items rated by panellists (76%). These span across suicide prevention domains including universal strategies, identifying and assessing a young person, and providing support to a young person at risk of suicide. Conclusion These guidelines are the first of their kind in Australia which involved both professional and lived experience experts. It addresses the current evidence gap and provide youth justice Departments, facilities and their staff with the most up-to-date evidence on how to best support young people in their care experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

Details

Title: Suicide prevention guidelines for young people in youth justice detentionsettings in Australia: an expert consensus study
Authors: Sanne Oostermeijer (Corresponding Author) - The University of Melbourne
Tony Jamieson (Author) - Griffith University
Judith Wright (Author) - The University of Melbourne
Anna Ross (Author) - The University of Melbourne
Rhiannon Morley (Author) - Victorian Department of Justice and Community Safety (Australia)
Poni Tongun (Author) - The University of Melbourne
Amy Morgan (Author) - The University of Melbourne
Nicola Reavley (Author) - The University of Melbourne
Publication details: Children and Youth Services Review, Vol.188, pp.1-10
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2026.109089
ISSN: 1873-7765
Data Availability: Data will be made available on request.
Grant note: Dr. Sanne Oostermeijer was supported by a Suicide Prevention Australia Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2022 – 2025) to complete this study.
Organisation Unit: School of Law and Society
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991250800002621
Output Type: Journal article

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