[sunnyb]

Hi, I read 2 things last week which both mentioned high suicide rates and wondered if anyone had any more information.

The first said that the winds that blow across Canterbury may be partly responsible for the high suicide rates in the area and the second said that NZ had the highest (or one of) teenage suicide rates.

I find this incredible as it doesn't fit at all with the things I've seen and heard about NZ life. Since our 2 children are entering teens, this is obviously somethingn that has made me hesitate about our plans to move to Christchurch!

If anyone can help explain this, I'd be most grateful
Many thanks, B

[able]

Without knowing the stats and maybe being a bit simplistic but I know that in the UK farmers commit suicide at a far higher rate than the rest of the population. New Zealand has a lot of farmers so.......?

[nippa&pippa]

I have heard about different winds in canterbury can change your moods :roll that why local nickname the winds like nor'wester...to believe this caused suicide? i don't know as i live in canterbury plain areas, springston and i am fine and love it here!

[aberdian]

A friend of mine works in mental health here in Aberdeen and his hospital used to have links with a mental institution in Southland somewhere and he reckoned that they were busier than anywhere in Scotland with patients with depression and just going generally "totally tonto" (his quote, not mine, I bow to the medical profession for their use of completely descriptive terms!). It was put down mostly to isolation, especially in winter. Probably less of a problem now than 20 or 30 years ago, with the improvement in communications etc, but still something to think about.

Ian

[ellenmelon]

im not sure how statistics like that would stop you emigrating to christchurch? a lot of it is to do with a predisposition to depressive moods and maybe why some teens are successful is that the signs of suicide arent caught early enough. depression is becoming more recognised as an actual disease, and guys arent as afraid as they used to be about seeking help i think. john kirwan has had a big part to play in this as far as i know..

[sunnyb]

In the UK I believe the main causes of suicide in teenagers are bullying and exam pressure. I just wanted to confirm that there are no obvious factors which are making it especially hard for teenagers in New Zealand before I bring my two!

Thanks, B

[MattA]

Suicide rates are very difficult to gauge accurately. Some countries don't record deaths as suicide for religious reasons. Other countries include euthanasia in their suicide statistics.

Classification of a death as suicide in NZ is subject to a coroner's inquiry, and only on completion of an inquest can a death be officially classified as suicide.

Here's a comparison of suicide rate / country, NZ does'nt figure very highly.
http://www.nzhis.govt.nz/stats/suicidefactsheet.html

Comparatively the suicide rate is higher for females than males when compared against other countries.

The top 3 countries for suicide are Japan , Finland then France for both males and females.

Here's suicide rate by region in NZ. CAnterbury is'nt that high.

http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:xWECGwGNsjYJ:www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/0/BEB6627B003586A5CC2570D400809A5B/%24File/suicideratesinnewzealand.doc+canterbury+%2B+high+s uicide+rate&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=uk

Urban legends on suicide
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/suicide.asp

Personally I'm be more bothered about drug / alcohol abuse.

[movefromus]

It is true (according to stats I've seen) that there is a high rate of suicides amongst teenagers. I grew up in New Zealand and recall hearing this. That being said though, I never personally knew any teenager who committed suicide. No teenagers that I knew even attempted it (as far as I was aware). I actually don't recall hearing of any teenage suicides in the news, or secondhand from friends.


Carly

[Myrkk]

My consultant mentioned this to me when I said we were going through the emmigrating process...... to the point that she was trying to persuade us not to go.

She said it was down to the isolation in NZ

[sunnyb]

Thank you all for putting my mind at rest.
B

[MattA]

Age differences in suicide rates
The comparisons in Figures 1 and 2 do not provide a comprehensive description of age differences in suicidal behaviours. Figure 3 shows age-specific rates of suicide for males and females presented in five-year intervals, for 1999. The following conclusions may be drawn from this graph:

* Risks of suicide for males tend to increase up to age 20, remain relatively stable over the period from 20–39 years, decline to age 69, and increase thereafter. An important implication is that those who are at most risk of suicide are males aged 20–39. It is also notable that rates of suicide amongst male teenagers are less than half the rates of suicide amongst young adult males, aged 20–39.
* Most youth suicides (following the World Health Organization (WHO) convention that ‘youth’ describes those aged 15–24) occur amongst young adult males aged 20–24, rather than amongst teenagers aged 15–19.
* Suicide rates for females tend to increase to age 24, remain relatively high to age 45, and show a small but consistent decline thereafter. In contrast to males, rates of suicide amongst females are similar for teenagers (15–19 years) and for young adults (20–24 years).

http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/116-1175/460/

Also statistically suicide is slightly higher amongst Māori .

[Pip]

Hmm.. not convinced on this one. We do live on the canterbury plains and yes, the wind can blow, but it doesn't seem much worse than the UK on a blustery day.

Norwesters are warm dry winds which blow across from Australia and are generally hot and dusty. Souwesters come up from the pole and bring icy/snowy weather - or at least thats what the locals have been telling me. All I know is souwesters mean its going to be a chilly one!

Haven't noticed any difference between the teenagers here and in central c.church so far! and judging by the hoardes of english families out this way, I don't think there's too much concern about bringing teenagers here . Also we're not quite isolated as many areas in the world.. I can be in Christchurch in 25 mins! and Rangiora/Kaiapoi are both small towns ten mins away..

and we can see the snowcapped mountains and they have awesome sunsets!!

[sunnyb]

thanks for the article MattA. Very helpful. It sounds like the problems are the same as the rest of the world and there is nothing specific that I need to worry about.

Pip, where abouts do you live on the Canterbury Plains? Sounds lovely. We're looking for somewhere we can see the mountains, be within 45mins of Chch and the sea. I understand the futher we go into the Plains, the more we can get for our money, is that right? We'd ideally like 10 hectares or more with grazing and woodland where we can build a house.

Thanks, B

[nippa&pippa]

and we can see the snowcapped mountains and they have awesome sunsets!!

:yes oh yes, the views is breath-taking...awesomes!!! But I have notice that today the alps nearer to my house got more snow than the alps nearer to christchurch :confused: my son is so excitable, want to know when are we are going up the mountain!!!

[nippa&pippa]

Pip, where abouts do you live on the Canterbury Plains? Sounds lovely. We're looking for somewhere we can see the mountains, be within 45mins of Chch and the sea. I understand the futher we go into the Plains, the more we can get for our money, is that right? We'd ideally like 10 hectares or more with grazing and woodland where we can build a house.

Thanks, B
We both do live in canterbury plains, it is a large areas. Pip live at north-west areas from christchurch and I live at south-west areas from christchurch (about 30mins from christchurch), so took us 45-60mins to meet each other's house for coffee!! I live in house with 4 hectares of land, that is enough to manageable. Currently our lands is using as grazing for our neighbours' cows and bull and two "lost" sheeps..(don't know who is owner yet!!) and the areas where i am is on "high table" mean water level high due to sea just 15-30mins drive away. Therefore the land is very fertile and rich, good for animals, hence that why we got lots of animals farms in south of christchurch, away from nor'wester wind!

[chrisndenise]

wow this is a cheary old thread ins't it? I'm going out for a walk and may be some time.

[Moorf]

Yes, suicide rates do seem higher here, probably due to the reasons mentioned above (rural life, stresses of farming, etc). In our sparsely populated area we've had 3 young male suicides in the 18 mths we've lived in the village.

The locals here very much believe that the winds (the Nor'wester here on the Canterbury Plains) are to blame for many people becoming irrritable, moody, "scratchy" and depressed and some really dread the nor'wester season. I believe this happens in many countries where they have hot dry winds (Santa Ana etc), some believe it's the hot dry wind sucking the moisture/ions out of the air..... Personally, I have found I get bad headaches when the nor'wester is really blowing (and believe me Pip, it can sure blow - albeit very seasonal...).

Here in inland Canterbury we live under what they call the "nor'west arch" - a unique cloud formation where the wind comes over the mountains and meets the climes on the Plains. Darfield is the nearest small rural town to us (we're in Waddington 10km further inland) and it's often called "the town under the nor'west arch" (there's a book by that title I believe). Here's a reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darfield,_New_Zealand

HTH
Moorf

[nippa&pippa]

Hello Moorf! I recalled this mentioned in the local newspaper about this...:yes There is no wind today at the moment, but when it do, it is very windy!

[Pip]

Hello!

yep, Sophia has pretty much covered it, but I'm out Ohoka/Rangiora way on a four acre plot, so we are about 25 mins from central c.church, about 10/15 mins from the beach depending on which one, and mountains are about an hour and half.. and yes, we can see them from the house. (plenty of snow - think we are off to test our our boards on mt hutt this weekend)

lots of ten acre blocks out here for building on and yes, the further out you get, the cheaper land is. If you are happy to be 45 mins out and depending on your budget, you shouldn't have any probs finding what you are looking for, whether out my way, or out towards Sophia's direction...

Moorf - I'm one of these irritating people that doesn't get headaches or so rarely, that I end up going to OH " What does a headache feel like - is this one ?", so probably haven't noticed. Will agree the wind certainly can blow - just to me, so far its no worse than the wind on the exposed hills of Somerset where I grew up, but I guess its all what you are used to...:)

Now.. speaking of getting together for coffee ... I start work soon, so perhaps a girly lunch to make the most of my last few days of freedom might be in order !

[nippa&pippa]

Now.. speaking of getting together for coffee ... I start work soon, so perhaps a girly lunch to make the most of my last few days of freedom might be in order !

sorry for o/t, Congratulation on job pip btw!! where you will be working??? give me a date by text on when you would like to come over for coffee (if i can get my coffee maker to work! might have fun there :D )

[nippa&pippa]

Is just me or any other? notice their hand, feet and skin are more drier out in the country? Since moved into my house, my hand is so dry and sore. (i know i have been looking after sick child, but i had it before)