The passing of a 14-year-old Aboriginal boy named Darius has left his Doomadgee family and the community grieving.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Darius' family are traditional owners in Doomadgee and his family need assistance to help pay for his funeral and to give this beautiful young man the send off that he deserves.
This is why Rhiannon Mitchell has organised a GoFundMe campaign to raise these much needed funds and to provide some support to his family during this difficult time.
Rhiannon heard about Darius' death as her mum Jenni also lives in the local community and told her about the family.
Rhiannon said Indigenous people in remote communities are often exposed to a number of known environmental risk factors including poverty, low socio-economic status, poor employment prospects and reduced access to service.
"Suicide in Australia's Indigenous population is significantly higher than the general Australian population," she said,
"Estimates suggest that, in some years, the suicide rate forIndigenous people in specific communities is as much as 40% higher than that for the Australian population as a whole."
She said over the past 30 years Indigenous suicide has increased, with young Indigenous males being the most at risk.
"Trauma and grief are ever present within many Indigenous communities as a result of the continuing loss and traumatisation from past discrimination, dislocation and mistreatment, as well as current grief from the deaths of family and community members and friends," she said.
READ ALSO: Julia Creek hospital downgraded
While you are here, subscribe to our weekly email delivered to your inbox every Tuesday and Friday.