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Suicide stats no surprise - psychologist

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Suicide stats no surprise - psychologist

3News NZ

A Christchurch psychologist says he's not surprised young people and Maori are among New Zealand's worst suicide statistics.

Nationwide there have been 574 suicides in the last 12 months.

Dr Bryan Wright of the Durham Counselling Centre says the fact there were 14 more teenage deaths and nearly twice as many Maori as the previous year proves they are less likely to ask for help.

"They're people who wouldn't share their difficulties a great deal, and they're also people who might more readily see suicide as the only option, which of course it's not."

Dr Wright says cases of anxiety and depression following the Canterbury earthquakes could contribute to the statistics.

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Comments

8/09/2012 11:28:47 p.m.

Something needs to be done about NZ's suicide!! wrote:

@Brian...your attitude is one that feeds the beast called suicide. Social stigma and bullying. New Zealand's youth is vulnerable and are distressed enough to kill themselves, this highlights the state of our 'youth population' today in this country. We are failing as a society. As a tax payer myself I would like to see my hard earned money go to suicide prevention. I have teenagers and feel heartache at the youth suicides. So Brian this generation that you are wishing would kill themselves are our future society, they are going to be in charge one day, and we need them to be able to put their best foot forward. Your attitude is disgusting and ugly.

5/09/2012 7:06:06 p.m.

brian wrote:

Let them kill themselves. Thats a whole generation of would be benefisheries stopped dead in there tracks. As a tax payer i couldnt be happier.

5/09/2012 10:11:18 a.m.

sick of burying kids wrote:

Beautiful girl (17) took her life on Sunday night in Masterton. 7 kids to the Wairarapa in the past year! She left a book of forgive me 'but I can't handle it anymore' letters to all of her family and school friends. She was sexually abused by a 'family friend' and the court case was AGAIN delayed. She was made to feel like it was her fault! Raped and still no justice after YEARS of court appearances! Did the courts ever think about her? In her words..... 'he wins'

4/09/2012 1:25:01 p.m.

Christine wrote:

Of course suicide has plummeted thruour new zealand not only in maori but other cultures as well. I can understand the hardships of the Christchurch people going through hardtimes etc especially after their trauma. But I want to say if you feeling happy or sad or glad we all want to share the good times as well as the sad times basically best that the mamae or pain that people are going thru that you can accept that yes it is real and why are you feel anger pain and other things. Recognizes the emotions and see what options you can do to deal with it to heal. It isnt going to take a day or a year to get over it. But from time as you talk you release it by talking to sumone and others listening. It takes heaps of your shoulders, people have choices to stay there or slowly progress to have wellness. Sumtimes life is a test and we can only make things better if we try to look for answers

4/09/2012 7:53:03 a.m.

TeRata Hikairo wrote:

Dr. Wright OBVIOUSLY has no idea that his claimed are unsubstantiated.. I was in Christchurch directly after the last earthquake.. as a trauma counsellor. Wright didn't know that because the WHOLE Christchurch community pulled together, suicide numbers PLUMMETED.. People felt cared for and listened to... Despite it all they weren't as sad.. coz EVERY Kiwi had them in their hearts.. I dunno about you but having the love of 4 million people would make me wanna live... More to the point the same happened at the time of the RWC... Suicide numbers plummeted.. WHY... Because people were listening to and caring for eachother.. We were all in it Together.. PROOF.. That only a SOCIAL Model NOT mental health.. will work to save our whanau from suicide