Welsh youth consultation on suicide and help-seeking behaviours

Posted Monday 29 November 2010

Mind Cymru today launches a ground-breaking report on young people’s views about suicide in Wales. As part of the ongoing Positive Choices project, around 200 young people aged 12 to 25 across Wales were asked for their views on issues such as suicide and self-harm. They were also asked to talk about what help they would like to have if they, or a friend, were thinking of harming themselves. 

The report shows that young people understand some of the reasons why people might think about taking their own lives. However, young people often have a negative view of people who have or act on thoughts of suicide, with some saying such people are ‘selfish’ or ‘cowards’. 

Adults were identified as a main source of help but young people also reported that adults didn’t always listen. Young people were also more likely to turn to their friends for support about thoughts of suicide or self-harm. The report recommends that these findings be taken into account when developing future interventions to reduce suicide rates. 

Alan Briscoe, Positive Choices Project Manager said

Today’s young people face enormous pressures. In trying to understand how best to provide help and support to reduce the rates of self harm and youth suicide, it is essential that young people are asked directly for their views and play a full part in any research.

 Lindsay Foyster, Director of Mind Cymru, said

The Positive Choices research launched today provides vital information about young people’s attitudes towards suicide which we hope will be used to address this serious issue.

You can download the report from Mind's website. There are also a limited number of hardcopies available; please contact n.burchett@mind.org.uk to request one.

This report follows the recent North Wales launch of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Youth Mental Health First Aid training programme. The training, which was launched by Alastair Campbell, trains adults to become aware of the emotional needs of young people and to help and refer appropriately. 

Notes for editors

Positive Choices is a major five-year project, led by Mind Cymru. The focus of the project is to promote mental health by relieving the serious mental distress experienced by individuals with thoughts of suicide. The project aims to raise awareness of suicide, break down stigma and increase the perception that suicide is everybody's business. Through the award-winning and internationally recognised ASIST programme the project is delivering training to essential front-line services and community gatekeepers in early intervention skills. Funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Mental Health Matters programme, the project engages with voluntary and statutory sectors as well as the wider community. For more information, go to www.positivechoices-wales.org 

Further information is available from

Alan Briscoe, Positive Choices Manager
T: 01654 703487
e: a.briscoe@mind.org.uk

Youth Mental Health First Aid (Wales) is a Welsh Assembly Government initiative that is supported by Mind Cymru. The YMHFA programme aims to improve awareness of mental health problems in the children’s workforce and public as a whole. This will help to reduce stigma, promote help-seeking behaviour and provide initial intervention before professional help is delivered. 

Further information is available from:

Kim Pugh
Mental Health First Aid (Wales) Project Manager
T: 02920 346581
e: k.pugh@mind.org.uk or c.foster@mind,org.uk

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