title: Young peoples' opinions about the causes of, and solutions to, New Zealand's high youth suicide rate.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department at The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Edna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heled
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Read
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D015984:Causality; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D009520:New Zealand; D011584:Psychology / Q000193:education; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000092864:Suicide Prevention