Resilience key to prevent suicides

Resilience programmes should be introduced into primary schools for children as young as 6 and 7, as part of plans to reduce New Zealand’s high youth suicide rates.

There was ‘‘clear evidence’’ that behaviour programmes focused on primary school children, helped reduce ‘‘later adolescent suicidality’’, the Prime Minister’s chief science adviser has told ministers.

In a discussion document released yesterday, Sir Peter Gluckman delved into the risks associated with growing up in the 21st century.

He pointed to the need to better develop the resilience of children ‘‘to the inevitable stressors of growing up’’.

With young people hitting puberty earlier right across the Western world, analysis showed ‘‘compelling evidence’’ that children who enter puberty at a younger age were at ‘‘far greater risk of behavioural, psychological and emotional disorder’’.

There was ‘‘unequivocal evidence’’ that children who entered puberty early were ‘‘more likely to indulge in alcohol and drug abuse’’ and often demonstrated more impulsive behaviours.

Adolescence was a period of ‘‘relatively poorly developed selfcontrol and heightened impulsive behaviour’’, Gluckman said.

‘‘So, rather than resilience, which might be expected - and needed - we see severe and harmful (including self-harm) responses.’’

But a further possible factor in increasing rates of youth suicide, was a ‘‘substantial change in the way we raise our children’’, Gluckman said.

‘‘They now tend to be under tight control in the pre-pubertal period but less control postpuberty (as reflected in school subject choice, parental controls on time, place and behaviour, access to credit cards and the internet and so on).

‘‘In contrast, 50 years ago Western child-rearing practice followed a loose-tight pattern in which prepubertal children had more freedoms - especially to undertake

"Indeed some programmes may actually increase the risk of suicidality." Sir Peter Gluckman

risky play - but adolescence was much more constrained.

‘‘This reversal may have resulted in a reduction in the capacity to self-assess risk in adolescence.’’

New Zealand’s youth suicide mortality rate in 2010 was 15.6 per 100,000 adolescents aged 15-19 - the highest among reported OECD rates. But National rates should be treated with caution, Gluckman advised.

‘‘There were reasons why many countries may under report,’’ he said.

From July 1, 2014, to June 30 this year, there were 238 suicides among New Zealanders aged 12-24.

Primary prevention early on in schools was ‘‘strongly suggested’’. But some formal programmes that had been implemented were likely not helping.

‘‘Indeed some programmes may actually increase the risk of suicidality.’’

Programmes that focused on young teens and young adults in their adolescence had seen some successes. But some of those programmes were ‘‘distressingly ineffective’’.

But a focus solely on youth mental health, ‘‘although important, is not sufficient’’, Gluckman said.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman announced the Government would be extending funding for the Suicide Mortality Review Committee to continue its work beyond its trial period.

‘‘Our suicide rate is too high, particularly the rates for youth and specifically Maori and Pacific young people,’’ said Coleman.

‘‘Although wider interventions and support have been made available, there is always more we can do.’’