Young New Zealanders' Beliefs About Youth Suicide and How It Can Be Prevented

Objective: New Zealand has the highest suicide rate amongst youth (ages 15-24) in the OECD. In this study, we aimed to conduct a conceptual replication of two previous studies (Heled & Read, 2005; Curtis, 2010), examining the views that youth in New Zealand hold about the causes of youth suicide, potential solutions, and help-seeking. Method: A detailed data collection and analysis plan was preregistered prior to data collection. One hundred university students aged 18 to 24 completed a mixed-methods online survey; 89% were female. Results: Just one of four hypotheses formulated based on the findings of Curtis (2010) was supported: Students who were personally aware of another student's suicidality were more willing to seek help for others from the university counselling service. Qualitative findings indicated that bullying and stigma were the most commonly perceived causes of youth suicide. Improvement of mental health services was the most frequently recommended solution for reducing the youth suicide rate. Conclusions: The views of youth should be included in the future development of mental health services and policies aimed at reducing suicide rates for this population.