FAIRFAX NZ

Between 2009 and 2013 the suicide rate among Kiwi men aged 20 to 24 was 29.7 per 100,000 – double the rate of their counterparts in Australia.

Twice as many young Kiwi men are killing themselves than their Australian counterparts, a study published this month shows.

University of Sydney psychiatry professor John Snowdon's analysis of the two countries' government suicide statistics over the last 65 years found persistently high rates of suicide among young New Zealanders.

In 2013, 21 per cent of Kiwi males who committed suicide were aged 15- to 24-years-old compared to 17 per cent in Australia. For females 26 per cent of Kiwis who died by suicide were in this age group, while it accounted for 14 per cent of Australians.

Between 2009 and 2013 the suicide rate among Kiwi men aged 20 to 24 was 29.7 per 100,000 – double the rate of their counterparts across the ditch.

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For the 14- to 24-year age group in New Zealand between 2009 and 2013 the rate of suicide was higher among males and Maori.

"The fact that the overall suicide rate is higher in New Zealand than Australia is attributable to the markedly higher suicide rates of New Zealand youths (male and female)," Snowdon wrote in the article published in this month's New Zealand Medical Journal.

The report said the youth suicide rates for Maori and Aboriginal Australians were similar, but the larger proportion of Maori contributed to the higher overall youth rate in New Zealand. 

Auckland psychotherapist Kyle MacDonald said the study highlighted the potentially destructive cross-cultural attitudes in New Zealand that prevented young people from seeking help. 

"I think the reality is we do have this approach – particularly with boys, [as] I think there is a gender difference with parenting – of 'Don't cry, toughen up, get over it'. We expect our young to be tough and unfortunately that means we don't let them be vulnerable."

He said the Government's suicide prevention strategy for 2006 to 2016 had clearly not worked. 

"We keep looking to the parent generation for answers. We need to talk to the young people and structure funding accordingly, whether that be more community services, drop-in services, more support, more to do, whatever it might be."

Kiwi comedian and mental-health advocate Mike King said preventing suicide in youth would require a radical attitudinal change throughout society, especially among parents. 

"There's a whole generation of young males, particularly Maori males who have grown up in broken homes, who are constantly criticised no matter what they do. They're constantly told they have to be hard and staunch and just suck it up and hold on to it and … it's killing them."

King is on an advisory committee for the suicide-prevention strategy being developed by the Ministry of Health this year.

He said there had been no prevention to date as the focus had been on intervention and post-suicide support programmes. 

The next strategy would include a target for a reduced number of suicides and more funding for education about attitudinal change.

"More money is going into building fences at the top of the cliff rather than to ambulances at the bottom. It's going to be proactive rather than reactive."

Too much emphasis had been on depression as a cause of suicide and not enough on disconnection felt by youth, King said. 

"Because they're the ones who feel like they are not valued, they are not loved and that no-one gives a s... about them."

New Zealand has long had one of the worst suicide rates in the world. An OECD report from October confirmed it has the highest rate of teen suicide among developed countries. 

In the 2015-16 financial year, New Zealand's suicide toll was the worst it had been since the Coroner's Office began keeping records in 2008. Between July 2015 and June 2016, 579 Kiwis took their own lives, compared to 564 during the previous year.

Canterbury recorded its highest suicide total since 2008, with 78 deaths.

WHERE TO GET HELP

Lifeline (open 24/7) - 0800 543 354

Depression Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 111 757

Healthline (open 24/7) - 0800 611 116

Samaritans (open 24/7) - 0800 726 666

Suicide Crisis Helpline (open 24/7) - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.

Youthline (open 24/7) - 0800 376 633. You can also text 234 for free between 8am and midnight, or email talk@youthline.co.nz

0800 WHATSUP children's helpline - phone 0800 9428 787 between 1pm and 10pm on weekdays and from 3pm to 10pm on weekends. Online chat is available from 7pm to 10pm every day at www.whatsup.co.nz.

Kidsline (open 24/7) - 0800 543 754. This service is for children aged 5 to 18. Those who ring between 4pm and 9pm on weekdays will speak to a Kidsline buddy. These are specially trained teenage telephone counsellors.

Your local Rural Support Trust - 0800 787 254 (0800 RURAL HELP)

Alcohol Drug Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 787 797. You can also text 8691 for free.

For further information, contact the Mental Health Foundation's free Resource and Information Service (09 623 4812).
 

 - Stuff