Warning: This article discusses self-harm.

First Nations young people contacted Kids Helpline more than 1,800 times in the first half of the year and raised suicide-related concerns at alarming rates, as new data reveals an increase in responses to children in crisis.

Nationally, Kids Helpline responded to almost 60,000 contacts overall between January and June, with an average of 16 crisis interventions, or duty of care interventions, daily.

Kids Helpline (KHL) have released their latest figures coinciding with a call to action for early intervention though the launch of their Help Us Reach Them campaign.

In instances where cultural identity was recorded, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people represented eight per cent of all calls and messages made to the service.

It's a slight overrepresentation within the general young people population.

Within these, mental health and suicide-related concerns were the leading reasons behind them, both accounting for around a quarter of these contacts made.

Cultural identity is recorded in a little less than half of contacts made to Kids Helpline, when the young person chooses to share this information.

Across the first half of 2026, the amount of young people reaching crisis point before reaching out tracks significantly higher than last year.

Compared to the same period last year, overall crisis interventions have increased by 26 per cent.

Increasing engagement with the KHL's webchat is also continuing.

KHL is Australia's only free, 24/7 professional counselling service for 5 to 25 year olds.

So far this year, 21,877 of all contacts made to the service came outside of regular business hours, or 9-5pm.

Overall, Emotional wellbeing and mental health concerns (around one in four contacts made) are the leading reasons for contact, following by family relationships (one in six), suicide-related concerns (one in seven).

Relationships with friends and peers, then self-injury and self-harm, child abuse, dating and partners, self-concept, and study and education (surpassing bullying) were also among the top ten, listed in decreasing prevalence.

Fifteen to 18-year-olds contacted the service most, though 13-year-olds were the most common contact made as a single year age group.

Females are almost three times as likely as males to contact KHL, with from transgender children making 2,635 contacts in the first half of the year.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people identified specific concerns in comparison to the broader young people population.

Mental health accounted for 25 per cent of contacts made, with suicide-related concerns accounting for 24 per cent.

In comparison, it was the reason for contacts made by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) children and young people 11 per cent of the time, and 19 per cent of the time for non-Indigenous and non-CALD young people.

Self-injury and self-harm, and child abuse was also raised by frequently by First Nations contacts.

The data for 2026 so far follows what Dean Brunker called a "sobering snapshot of the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people," revealed in KHL's latest impact report, released last month.

Mr Brunker is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Initiatives Manager at yourtown, the organisation which delivers Kids Helpline.

First Nations young people were similarly disproportionately represented among those making contact with KHL.

In 2025, one-in-three contacts made by First Nations young people reported current thoughts of suicide.

The service was at the time calling out for more funding as well as investment in early intervention as the calls, chats and emails they receive continue to grow in numbers.

Off the back of the more recent data, the Help Us Reach Them campaign is encouraging parents, teachers, siblings, carers, coaches or guardians to remind them support such as that of KHL's is available, and simple conversations can reinforce this.

"Behind every crisis intervention is a young person in significant distress. We want young people to know they don't have to wait until they are in crisis to ask for help," yourtown chief executive Tracey Adams said.

"Young people can't seek support if they don't know the service exists. The earlier we can connect those in distress with Kids Helpline, the greater impact we can have in their help-seeking journey."

13 YARN - 13 92 76

Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800

Lifeline - 13 11 14