The report released by the Australian Human Rights Commission found at least 333 children and young people aged between four and 17 years of age died as a result of intentional self-harm between 2007 and 2012. The deaths reported include those with and without suicidal intent.

Eighty per cent of the deaths were from asphyxiation. In the past, asphyxiation was mostly associated with males, but the report found it is now most commonly used by females. Eighty-five per cent of the young females died by this method compared with 81 per cent of the young males over the five years covered by the report.

The report also found 28 per cent of deaths were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, despite the fact they represent only  3 per cent of the nation's population.

Indigenous youths aged 15-24 years-old are 5.2 times more likely to die due to intentional self-harm than non-indigenous youths in the same age range, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics published in the report. These findings coincide with data released in a similar report by the Queensland government last year.

Strategies for suicide and self-harm prevention in Australia until now have focused on reducing the maximum paracetamol pack size from 25 to 20 in September 2013, installing safety precaution signs at potential jump sites, and tightening regulations for the licensing and safe storage of firearms.

However, the report recommends that priority should be given to investigating ways to prevent more commonly used lethal methods, such as asphyxiation. There are concerns that prevention in this area is almost impossible considering the availability of household tools used for such methods.

The Australian Human Rights Commission said increasing awareness of primary caregivers about risk factors and warning signs is essential.

Previously unpublished data by the National Coronial Information System in the report shows five of the 333 deaths were children in the 4-11 age range, 14 were in the 12-13 age range, 106 were in the 14-15 age range and 204 in the 16-17 age range.

It is suggested the increase of 657 per cent between those who are in the 12-13 year age range and those in the 14-15 year age range may be due to the effects of puberty.

Kids Helpline, Australia's national telephone crisis and counselling service for young people, analysed case notes of 84 randomly selected online and phone contacts from young people between 2013 and 2014 to determine risk factors.

It found the cause of intentional self-harm and suicidal behaviour was primarily due to emotional distress (46.5 per cent of online contacts and 35 per cent of phone contacts).

Emotional distress ranged from feelings of being overwhelmed, confused, feeling unloved, lonely, not coping with change, anger issues and past suicide attempts.

Diagnosed mental and health issues, physical and emotional abuse, grief and loss, body image issues and family conflict were among the other risk factors.

The report is part of the federal government's pre-election promise to allocate $18 million to establish a national centre for youth mental health. The government promised to invest in new programs of research that specifically seek to reduce deliberate self-harm and suicide.

Anyone experiencing feelings of anxiety or depression should call Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800, Lifeline on 13 11 14, or headspace on 1800 650 890 or at headspace.org.au/eheadspace