Monday afternoon's news in under 5 minutes.

We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.

1. Suicide is the leading cause of death for teen girls.

A recent report reveals that the leading cause of death for girls between ages 15 and 19 worldwide is suicide.

A World Health Organisation report released in 2014 found more girls in this age group die from suicide than road accidents or disease.

According to The Telegraph UK, it was previously recorded that complications during childbirth was the leading cause of death for teen girls.

Now, the leading causes of death for 15- to 19-year-old girls are listed as:

1. Self-harm
2. Maternal conditions
3. HIV/AIDS
4. Road injury
5. Diarrhoeal diseases

The issue in South East Asia is particularly significant — with self-harm killing three times the number of teenage girls than other causes.

Psychiatrist Vikram Patel explained the probably reason behind the high suicide rate to The Telegraph UK.

“The most probable reason is gender discrimination. Young women’s lives [in South East Asia] are very different from young men’s lives in almost every way,” Dr Patel said.

The only region in which suicide is not the leading cause of death for teen girls is Africa, where birth complications and HIV rates are particularly high.

If this post brought up any issues for you, or you just feel like you need someone to talk to after reading it, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 at any time of the day or night.

2.  New reporting processes for domestic violence victims aim to reduce trauma.

As of today, domestic violence victims in NSW will be offered the opportunity to give video or audio-recorded statements to police, which can later be used as evidence in court.

The move makes NSW the first state to take such a step, which means victims will not be required to appear in court to give in-person evidence, or to relive a written testimony.

According to NSW Police, the new approach will help reduce the trauma in giving evidence. reduce the difficulty in remembering details of incidents, and increase the likelihood of early guilty pleas.

Bravo, NSW.

3. Memorial to be erected at the site where 8 children were allegedly murdered.

The Cairns home where eight children were found dead earlier this year is being demolished, with hopes it will be cleared by the week’s end.

According to Channel Nine, the house served as a haunting reminder of the horror that occurred there, and the local community are pleased to see it removed.

The site is set to become an extension of the neighbouring park, with a memorial to the children.

The mother of seven of the victims, Raina Thaiday, was charged with multiple counts of murder.

Ms Thaiday will appear in court on June 24.

4. Kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart gave birth to a daughter.

It’s been 13 years since Elizabeth Smart was snatched from her home in Salt Lake City at the age of 14.

The abduction survivor kept in the house of a crazed preacher before being rescued nine months later.

Now, Smart’s father has confirmed to the local paper that his daughter gave birth to a baby girl named Chloe in February.

Smart married her husband Matthew Gilmour in 2012, after meeting while conducting mission work in France.

Now 27, Smart is an advocate for victims of kidnapping and child abuse and founded The Elizabeth Smart Foundation in 2011.

5. A strep vaccine is imminent.

A life-saving immunisation against streptococcal disease is not far off, doctors say.

While strep can start as a sore throat, untreated it can develop into life-threatening fevers and heart and kidney diseases. Worldwide, it kills half a million people every year.

“We believe, and our data suggests, that the vaccine will protect against all strains of strep,” leading researcher Michael Good from Queensland told The Australian.

“It’ll protect against minor things which are irritating, like school sores, and tonsillitis, which is a little more serious.

“But what we really want to protect against is what happens after those conditions if they’re not treated.”

In Australia, strep is particularly lethal in Aboriginal communities.

The trial conducted on mice has proved successful and Professor Good predicts the vaccine will be widely available in five to 10 years.

Do you have a story to share with Mamamia? Email us news@mamamia.com.au.
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