Immigration Minister Scott Morrison's claim that children in detention received daily care was not true and he needed to be "better advised", the Australian Human Rights Commission president says.

Professor Gillian Triggs also said there was evidence detained children had tried to poison themselves, despite Mr Morrison's statement the assertions were "sensational".

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said assertions children had to tried to poison themselves were "sensational". Credit:Wolter Peeters

The third hearing of the commission's inquiry into children in detention on Thursday was told the Immigration Department had advised the independent health provider on Christmas Island not to publish a report that showed alarming rates of mental health issues among child detainees.