Poverty, exposure to suicide increase risk of young people taking their own lives

Young people are more at risk of taking their own lives if they have been exposed to others' suicide attempts, a study shows.

It also found the risk of both suicide attempts and repeated non-suicidal self-injury was highest among females, students living in poverty, and students reporting an episode of low mood in the previous 12 months

The report, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, surveyed 8500 New Zealand high school students from March through November in 2012. 

Overall, 4.5 per cent of respondents reported a suicide attempt in the last 12 months, and 7.9 per cent reported repeated non-suicidal self-injury in the same time frame. 

Lead authors, Dr Song Chan and Associate Professor Simon Denny of the University of Auckland's School of Medicine, said the findings highlighted the importance of having strategies in place to reduce suicide — including increased access to psychological interventions and supports — that should, ideally, be delivered through schools.

The survey found exposure to suicidal behaviour among friends or family increased an individuals' risk of suicide and repeated self-harm, especially when that exposure was in the past year, which is in keeping with international research. 

However, there was little evidence to back-up "contagion" theories relating to suicide or self-harm within school communities. 

Dr Chan explained that while "students who were exposed to the suicide attempts of whanau or friends were four to five times more likely to report their own suicide attempt, suicides within a school did not influence the rates at which individual young people attempted suicide".

"Low mood, poverty and exposure to suicide attempts of friends and family members are associated with suicide attempts and repeated non-suicidal self-injury in New Zealand high school students. This research highlights the importance of supporting vulnerable adolescents with supports that are easily accessible to them."

A different report, Unicef's Innocenti Report, also found New Zealand's rate for teen (aged 15-19) suicides was the highest of the 41 OECD and EU countries included. 

In an average week two young people would kill themselves, and about 20 young people would be hospitalised for self-harm, according to Youthline.

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.

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).