Media Release
17 November 2009
Youth Suicide Prevention: Europe’s Lessons Learned
A leading member of the European Suicide Prevention Network, Dr Lilian Zollner, is being hosted by Skylight and the Ministry of Health to talk about innovative youth suicide prevention in Denmark and Europe.
Dr Zollner, Head of the WHO Collaboration Centre for the Prevention of Suicide University Hospital, speaks today on “Youth suicide prevention in Denmark and Europe: recent research, strategies and lessons learned.”
In 1996 more than 150,000 people suicided in 38 countries of the WHO European region. Today suicide remains one of the most important causes of death in Europe, especially among young and middle-aged people. WHO reports that it is in Eastern Europe that the highest suicide rates are reported for both men and women.
Effective suicide prevention continues to be crucial. Dr Zollner’s work in suicide prevention research and strategies across Europe, has earned her the highest respect and regard. Her address today, to professionals involved in suicide prevention strategies and polices in New Zealand, will look at how to reach young people before they harm themselves, why young people often do not use help they are offered and which factors protect young people most against self harm and suicide.
Dr Zollner says, “Any lessons that can be learned and shared between organisations, countries, and regions are important, vital even, in working to reduce rates of suicide in our respective countries as well as collectively.”
An important aspect of Dr Zollner’s work is how to keep the politicians and policy makers up to date with latest accounts of factors affecting the youth (such as eating disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, influence of cell phones etc) so that prevention strategies can be implemented as early as possible. She will also discuss her research into whether adolescents in Denmark are similar to young people of other countries.
Mrs Bice Awan, Skylight’s Chief Executive and Mental Health Commissioner, says that “International research and proven strategies about suicide prevention can help inform our programmes and policies here in New Zealand.”
Currently in New Zealand deaths by suicide each year outnumber the road toll. Latest statistics indicate around 9 suicides each week. Two of those will be under 25 years old. The impact has a huge ripple effect on family, friends, schools and communities.
“A friend phoned me and told me what happened. I couldn’t even talk. I sort of froze. Then all I wanted was to be with my friends. It was really scary. I didn’t want to be alone,” says Kelly, a teen impacted by suicide.
Any kind of death is difficult. A death by suicide can be sudden and particularly tough to handle. It leaves people with many questions which are difficult, if not impossible to answer. It can leave people feeling overwhelmed, stuck, angry and with many “if only…” feelings. A death by suicide will deeply affect close family and friends, but also others who knew the person less well.
Mrs Awan says, “Dr Zollner has been using Skylight’s innovative Travellers programme through the Danish Centre for Suicide Research in Denmark for the past 4 years.”
Travellers, a programme developed by Skylight for New Zealand young people, surveys Year 9 students. Those students assessed as ‘at risk’ can be selected to participate in the resilience building component of the programme. Travellers is invaluable at highlighting students that might otherwise fall through the cracks and go unnoticed.
Travellers, funded as part of the Ministry of Health Suicide Prevention Strategy, is currently being used by 80 schools around New Zealand with excellent feedback.
“I feel happy with myself now. I didn’t talk to people much before and now, since Travellers I do, and that’s added to my self-esteem,” says a teenage participant.
Dr Zollner, in researching the link between suicidal behaviour and eating disorders, has also adapted Travellers for teens in Denmark affected by eating disorders.
Visit the Travellers NZ Website
Dr Lilian Zollner