New Zealanders Reject 'Mental Illness Explanations for Suicide

A New Zealand survey of nearly 400 young adults contradicts arguments that high youth suicide rates are related to an increase in mental illnesses such as 'depressive disorder, and shows that young people see little value in mental health services.

(PRWEB) April 30, 2005 -- The most commonly cited causes of suicide were: pressure to conform and perform, financial worries, child abuse and neglect, and problems with alcohol or drugs. Only 1% cited mental illness. The findings confirm international studies, including in the UK, that the public rejects psychiatric explanations of mental health problems and understands them in terms of social rather than biological causes.

The majority (66%) of the 384 17-25 year olds surveyed knew someone who had attempted suicide, and 42% knew someone who had committed suicide. Their recommended solutions included crisis support services located in schools and youth centres, more youth activities, educational programmes 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, were considered solutions.    

The study, published this week in leading U.S. scientific journal Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior", was conducted by postgraduate researcher Edna Heled and senior lecturer in psychology Dr John Read.

Dr Ian Hassall (New Zealands first Commissioner for Children): The young people, as they often do, see this issue much more clearly than their elders. At last the evasions, denials and false solutions that were adult New Zealands response to the spectacular doubling of our youth suicide rate are being stripped away."

Dr Read: I doubt if young people in the UK would see things any differently. Explaining suicide in terms of depression is too simplistic. It medicalizes what is a social problem, and begs the question of why so many people are depressed these days."

Claims that the recent slight dip in our suicide rate has occurred because more people are taking anti-depressants are scientifically silly. The increase in the percentage of our youngsters taking psychiatric drugs is a cause for concern not celebration (except of course for the drug companies)."

Dr Read is co-editor (with Professor Richard Bentall, Manchester University) of the 2004 book Models of Madness" in which 23 international researchers present the evidence that the public is right to view 'mental illnesses as reactions to life events. He will be lecturing in UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands in June, including a keynote address at the University of Glasgows Psychosis and Trauma conference.

j.read@auckland.ac.nz www.psych.auckland.ac.nz    ; + 64 9 373 7599 ext 85011

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