Youth care centres are not doing enough to prevent suicide among teenagers and are insufficiently aware of the signs, the youth health inspectorate has told the Volkskrant.

The conclusion comes in the wake of an investigation by the inspectorate into the suicide of a 14-year-old girl at a centre in The Hague. Some 18 youngsters killed themselves while in institutional care in 2019, up six from the year before.

Frequent staff changes and transfers of youngsters from one centre to another means a comprehensive insight into the teens’ lives is lacking, the inspectorate said.

In addition,centres are often specialised in one problem to the detriment of specialised treatment for youngsters who have multiple problems, the inspectors said.

The lack of appropriate care – combined with waiting lists and referrals – are also mentioned in a report into suicide among teens by the 113 suicide prevention hotline.

If you, or someone you know, needs help, you can contact 0900 0113 (available 24/7) or to go website 113.nl.