A dozen female asylum seekers have reportedly been placed on suicide watch after attempting to take their own lives on Christmas Island in order to secure a better life for their children.

Fairfax Media says it has spoken to three independent sources who have confirmed the women tried to end their lives after being told they would be taken to Nauru or Manus Island.

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The Sydney Morning Herald has quoted Maurice Blackburn Lawyers’ Jacob Varghese, who is representing 72 asylum seeker babies, as saying the mothers become distressed when told by immigration officials this week they would never be resettled in Australia because they arrived after July 19 last year.

Arrivals after this date can’t be settled in Australia in accordance with legislation enacted by Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Mr Varghese has told the paper: “We have heard from our clients there that in the last day several women have attempted suicide or harmed themselves. They are in a state of utter despair.”

The women reportedly hoped that their orphaned children would be allowed to enter Australia.

“The women believe that if they sacrifice themselves the children will grow up to learn they did the best thing for them, to give them the chance to live in Australia,” Christmas Island shire president Gordon Thomson told The Guardian Australia.

“The conditions women are having to survive are so grotesque that they obviously can’t bear it any more,” Thomson said.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.

–with AAP