A "radical approach" to tackle Indigenous suicide may be needed after 13 young people killed themselves within three and a half years in WA's north, an inquest has been told.

In what will be one of the largest inquests in Australia in recent years, coroner Ros Fogliani will examine the suicides of 13 young Aboriginal people in the Kimberley region.

In his opening address, counsel assisting the coroner Philip Urquhart said five of the deaths involved children aged between 10 and 13.

They had all been exposed to alcohol abuse and domestic violence in the home, had poor school attendance and most had not sought help from mental health services.

There was evidence six of those who died had been sexually abused.

Mr Urquhart told the court the rate of Aboriginal youth suicide was alarming.

"It is simply unacceptable that this should happen," Mr Urquhart said.

"There has been no solution to this problem that has now reached disturbing proportions.

"Is it now time to accept that a radical approach needs to be taken?

"If ever there was a time for change, it's now."

Hearings to be held in remote WA

Over the next three months, the coroner will travel to Broome, Kununurra, Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing to hear evidence about what drove the young people to take their lives and what could have been done to prevent their actions.

She will also examine whether recommendations from a similar inquest 10 years ago had any impact.

Expert witness Professor Pat Dudgeon told the ABC before the inquest opened that she welcomed the chance to renew the fight against suicide rates in the Kimberley, which for Aboriginal people are seven times the national average.

Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre chair Merle Carter was not as optimistic.

She said the region was grappling with alcohol abuse, poor housing and hopelessness, which contributed to the high suicide rate.