The late teens and early twenties ought to be among the best years of everybody's life. Photo / 123RF
Black dog of depression can bite anyone so we all need to watch out for friends, family.
New Zealand has the worst teenage suicide rate in the developed world, and the second worst for young people under 26. The natural response to these statistics is to wonder how this could be so in a country as pleasant, peaceful, quiet and prosperous as New Zealand. One of the difficulties of talking about suicidal depression is that the natural reaction is not helpful.
As a young survivor of two suicide attempts told the Herald this week, "We've been taught that we aren't allowed to be sad, that we have more than the generations before us so there is apparently no need for us to feel down. Let's admit it, adults look at us teens and young adults as if we are useless if we don't have jobs or aren't studying for some sort of career."
What can we do about that? Certainly the country should continue to do everything possible to encourage school leavers to take the jobs or training courses that are both abundant in New Zealand today. But we need to be careful how we talk about those who do not take these opportunities. It is timely to say so as an election approaches because the Labour Party is focusing its policies strongly on the estimated 90,000 young people not in employment, education or training and there will be debate about their motivation.
How we talk about youth suicide is vitally important but first the country has to make the decision to talk about it. The Herald has called its series on the subject "Break the Silence", partly because New Zealand is unusual in having a law of silence. The news media are not supposed to report a death as suicide unless a coroner gives permission, and, if they do, many of the circumstances are likely to be suppressed. The health authorities want suicide to be publicly discussed only in generalities, not with reference to particular cases.
But real life exists in particular cases. Each is unique and each helps our understanding. It is understanding that sufferers of depression most need. That is already evident from the case studies of survivors such as those we have published today.
The late teens and early twenties ought to be among the best years of everybody's life. They are the years of peak physical condition when some young people become Olympians, All Blacks and Silver Ferns. But for many they are the most difficult, uncertain years when choices present themselves, decisions need to be made and these can seem more fateful for life than they really are. Depression seems indiscriminate, it can strike the lucky as well as the less fortunate, the rich, the intelligent, the artistic and the entertaining. It is an illness unlike any other and requires its own care.
Our series will tell the stories of individuals who have survived suicide attempts and overcome struggles with the illness. It will examine how schools cope with a suicide among their pupils and the difficulties suicidal teens face when they need mental health services.
It is not easy to know what to say to someone in the grip of depression. They cannot explain it. But silence is no help.
The enforced silence has not saved 130 young people a year taking their lives in New Zealand. Parents, schools, employers, workmates, friends needs to know how to let that person know they are valued, their life has meaning and their future will be something to see.
Where to get help:
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• Samaritans 0800 726 666
• If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.