The Aboriginal suicide crisis has claimed the lives of at least 24 indigenous children in just four months, sparking a national campaign to tackle mental health issues in remote communities. Of the young people, three 12-year-old indigenous children have committed suicide since January, according to the National indigenous Critical Response Service (NICRS). At Tuesday's budget, the government revealed $461million would be spent on youth mental health - but only $5million over four years would go towards indigenous youth suicide. At least 24 young indigenous people have taken their own lives this year amid Australia's Aboriginal suicide youth crisis Five young indigenous girls took their own lives across Australia in January (pictured Rochelle Pryor, from Perth, took her own life after a cry for help on social media) An average of three indigenous Australians commit suicide each week. Over the past three months, a total of 42 indigenous people have committed suicide, including 24 males and 18 females. Gerry Georgatos, who helped found and launch NICRS, said the majority of the 42 losses were youth suicides. 'Suicide is multifactorial and multilayered with an arc of issues, some which intertwine, but it is not complex. There is an underwriting narrative — poverty,' Mr Georgatos wrote for Independent Australia. 'In my research – borne robustly from the experiential – responding to suicide-affected families, nearly 100 per cent of First Nations suicides are of people living below the poverty line. 'Understanding and addressing poverty is the major way forward to saving from suicide First Nations children and youth, and reducing of the Australian suicide toll.' Over the past three months, a total of 42 indigenous people have committed suicide, including 24 males and 18 females Gerry Georgatos, who helped found and launch the National indigenous Critical Response Service (NICRS), said the majority of the 42 losses were youth suicides Mr Georgatos told ABC's Hack that indigenous people's living conditions needed improvement to prevent further suicides. 'What we need is our governments to prioritise the indigenous suicide prevention space with outreach, intensive psychosocial support, helping people improve their life circumstances... and early intervention,' he said. The 2019 Closing The Gap report found indigenous Australians are still more likely to be disadvantaged than non-indigenous Australians in regards to employment, education and health. Around 165 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders took their own own lives in 2017, according to official figures. While the 2018 figures are yet to be released, Mr Georgatos believes last year's death toll was at least 180, including around 50 under the age of 18. 'The suicide crisis for First Nations peoples remains an uninterrupted three-decade-long tragedy and it is a humanitarian crisis, with more children and females lost than ever before,' he told The Australian. The crippling epidemic has led mental health organisation R U OK? to launch a suicide prevention campaign for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) communities Indigenous children, aged between five and 17, die from suicide at five times the rate of non-indigenous children, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics. Figures show one in four people who took their own life before turning 18 were Aboriginal. Five Aboriginal girls committed suicide within two weeks in January including 14-year-old Rochelle Pryor from Perth. The crippling epidemic has led mental health organisation R U OK? to launch a suicide prevention campaign for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) communities. Stronger Together, announced last week, aims to encourage conversation and individuals to offer support to family and friends within the community. R U OK? said a 2016 report found an average of over 100 ATSI people committed suicide each year. R U OK? said a 2016 report found an average of over 100 ATSI people committed suicide each year The rate is twice as high as what was recorded for other Australians. 'Nationally, indigenous people die from suicide at twice the rate of non-indigenous people. This campaign comes at a critical time.' said Dr Vanessa Lee, who has chaired R U OK?'s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group. 'As a community, we are Stronger Together. Knowledge is culture, and emotional wellness can be learned from family members such as mothers and grandmothers.' 'These new resources from R U OK? will empower family members, and the wider community, with the tools to look out for each other as well as providing guidance on what to do if someone answers ''No, I'm not OK''.' All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility