Poverty not only reason for suicide spike, says Key

Photo / Greg Bowker

Prime Minister John Key said deprivation may be one of the reasons behind the large number of youth suicides but it was not an explanation by itself.

"Of itself, just being poor doesn't mean someone will commit suicide ... the children of very well-off families committed suicide so it is not as clear as that."

He told his post-Cabinet press conference yesterday he was aware of the cluster in suicides in Northland this year including that of a 10-year-old boy in recent weeks. There have been 32 suicides in the region this year - compared with 17 last year - and about half of them young people.

Mr Key announced a series of measures in April, costing $62 million over four years, to address youth mental health issues including funding health workers in schools.

Maori Party co-leader and Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia questioned whether that was a good use of the money.

Mr Key said gaps had been identified in the delivery of mental health services to young people and the package was designed to fill those gaps.

"What we know is that there is quite a lot that we don't know about the system. We don't know what works perfectly."

But what was known was that a disproportionate number of Maori boys took their lives and that boys were more likely to succeed at their attempts than girls.

He still thought mental health workers in schools was a good idea.

"Our expectation would be that a 10-year-old boy would be at school and that at least is a controlled environment where a health worker would at least have access to that young person."

Disaffection among young Maori men and a sense of not belonging are part of the problem, Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said. He is campaigning for New Zealand history to be taught in all schools.

In a speech last week, he said Maori children were not achieving well in schools because teachers, with other New Zealanders, were not familiar with the history and traditions that made Maori students who they were.

Familiarity with Maori culture was behind the success of kura kaupapa, immersion schools, he said.

Reaching out

Youthline: 0800 376 633

Lifeline: 0800 543 354;

0508 TAUTOKO: (0508 828 865)

Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (4pm to 6pm weekdays)

Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757