Because each person is unique, there is no single reason why people choose to end their life. However, from research we know that there are several factors that may contribute to a person engaging in suicidal behaviour. Mental disorder, most commonly depression, appears to be the most important risk factor for suicide and suicide attempts.
Research from the Canterbury Suicide Project in Christchurch has found that young people who have died by suicide or who have made a serious suicide attempt often have shared circumstances, such as: they have some underlying psychological distress or mental illness; immediately before the suicide attempt they may face a severe stress or life crisis that often centres around the breakdown of an emotional or supportive relationship; they tend to come from disturbed or unhappy family and childhood backgrounds; they tend to come from socially and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
Research from this study also found that approximately 90 percent of people who die by suicide or make suicide attempts will have one or more recognisable psychiatric disorders at the time. The most common ones are depression, substance-use disorders (alcohol, cannabis and other drug abuse), and significant behavioural problems.
Research is continuing to investigate the range of factors that may have the capacity to protect people who might otherwise be at risk of suicide. Suggested protective factors include good coping skills and problem-solving behaviours, positive beliefs and values, feelings of self-esteem and belonging, connections to family or school, secure cultural identity, supportive family/whanau, hapu and iwi, responsibility for children, social support, and holding attitudes against suicide.
If you are concerned about someone who may be suicidal or is very distressed you can approach the following people for advice:
a family doctor (GP) or practice nurse
a community mental health service
marae-based health clinics
Maori community health workers a counsellor (including school guidance counsellor) or Maori health/counselling services
phone counselling services such as Lifeline, Samaritans or Youthline.
If the situation is critical, try to ensure the person is safe, and contact your nearest hospital emergency department or psychiatric emergency team.
Just as there is no one reason which brings someone to take their own life, there is no one answer. Rather, a range of initiatives needs to be in place across a number of settings supported by Government, service providers, communities and families. Such interventions are generally aimed at promoting protective factors and reducing risk factors for suicide.
Key components of suicide prevention
In the absence of conclusive scientific evidence on all aspects of suicide prevention, there is strong agreement internationally of the key components for suicide prevention. The main themes from reports and strategies on suicide prevention, internationally, state the need for a comprehensive and intersectoral approach. This approach should use multiple strategies that:
address multiple risk and protective factors
involve sustained action over a long period
involve local, regional and national action
involve action across several sectors (eg, health, education, police,
corrections, Child, Youth and Family)
have a wide view of prevention as requiring interventions to occur at a range of levels including the environment, whole population, specific population groups (eg, Maori, youth, Pacific peoples, males) and individuals at risk (preferably in the context of the family/whanau)
include a focus on improving data, research and evaluation.
Intervention themes
There is general agreement that a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention needs interventions to address the following six themes:
mental health promotion including strengthening social cohesion and
providing supportive environments
effective, accessible and responsive services for people with mental
disorders or suicidal behaviours (including prevention, recognition and
treatment of depression)
training and skill development on suicide risk assessment and management
a managed approach to media and publicity about suicide
reducing access to the means of suicide
postvention management and support for families and friends following suicide.
What are some examples of where we can focus suicide prevention initiatives?
Prevent, recognise and treat depression.
Promote positive mental health in families, schools, workplaces and the community.
Promote awareness of mental health issues at the community level.
Improve services (both mental health, emergency and general health services).
Support initiatives to reduce the stigma of mental illness (eg, Like Minds, Like Mine campaign).
Increase public understanding of what to do if someone is suicidal.
Improve the support and treatment of those who have already attempted suicide, and their families and friends.
Implement measures to restrict access to the means of suicide.
Provide guidance to the media about the reporting and publicity of suicide to minimise the potential of imitative suicides.
Improve our knowledge and information systems so we can better target suicide prevention strategies for the best outcomes.
Support communities, families and whanau to provide emotionally safe and nurturing environments for all people, particularly children and young people.
Expand family support and early intervention services to help keep children and young people safe and healthy.
