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Young Peoples' Opinions About the Causes of, and Solutions to, New Zealand's High Youth Suicide Rate
Author(s) -
Heled Edna,
Read John
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1521/suli.35.2.170.62881
Subject(s) - boredom , neglect , mental health , suicide prevention , poison control , psychiatry , feeling , injury prevention , depression (economics) , psychology , occupational safety and health , suicide rates , medicine , medical emergency , social psychology , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
In response to an open‐ended question about the causes of New Zealand's high youth suicide rate, 384 young adults most commonly cited pressure to conform and perform, followed by financial worries, abuse and neglect, problems with alcohol or drugs, and boredom. Depression was cited by 5 percent and mental illness by only 1 percent. Recommended solutions included crisis support services located in schools and youth centers, youth activities, educational programs to assist young people to discuss feelings and to bolster self‐esteem, and financial aid. Neither increasing mental health services, nor reducing media coverage of suicides, was considered to be a solution.