Disgust greets student mag's suicide guide

By THERESA GARNER

Auckland University's student magazine has published a guide to commiting suicide.

Yesterday, 10,500 copies of Craccum, featuring the article "Suicide and how to do it," were spread around the country's biggest university.

The article, condemned as reckless by young people's advocates, outlines the pros and cons of methods of suicide, the leading cause of death for young people in New Zealand.

Illustrated with photos of hanged people and others with their heads blown off, each page carries the number of the university's counselling service.

Ten methods are outlined, including autocide, drowning and pill-taking.

New Craccum co-editor Ben Thomas, a 21-year-old law student, said the guide was not intended to advocate or promote suicide, and he had deliberately left out methods that were painless.

The magazine said the subject should not be taboo.

"All we know is that support helps and silence doesn't," said Mr Thomas.

"Our prime reason for printing this article is to provide information. If you think that you want to commit suicide, you need to know what you're getting into."

The chairman of the Coroners' Council, Richard McElrea, said the anguish caused by suicides was enormous, and he was lost for words on hearing a graphic excerpt from the article about how to slit a wrist.

"That is an appalling piece of writing, and is just as likely to result in someone taking a morbid interest in the subject than preventing someone taking that action."

Lifeline's Bruce Mackie said he had wondered why the magazine had asked him to place an advertisement in this issue, discounted by $1000.

He said that at any given time 20 per cent of the population were vulnerable.

"They are distressed or depressed or anxious. Not all are suicidal but a small minority may be, and the last thing they need is suicidalisation reinforced.

"It's not a topic worth playing with in this way."

One disgusted student contacted the Herald, saying the article was "dumber" than the usual the magazine published.

"This is how to commit suicide, not why. Why is what the problem is."

The young woman said she knew people whose parents had killed themselves.

"I don't think anyone should have to read how someone they loved died."

Craccum's income, from advertising and membership fees through the Auckland University Students' Association, shrank when the association went voluntary last year.

Mr Thomas admitted that the magazine had had a bad year, but said it was cynical to suggest running the article was a publicity stunt. Another article rubbishes the theory that suicide is a selfish act and says people should respect those who want to kill themselves.

The author, Tim Selwyn, was jailed four years ago for forgery after standing in local body elections under a false name. He had earlier been convicted of feigning marriage to gain $12,000 in student allowances.

Dr Ian Hassall, a former Commissioner for Children, and chairman of the lobby group Children's Agenda, said it was good to raise suicide as an issue.

"We have too much swept it under the carpet, but the graphic details are reckless."

The Youth Suicide Awareness Trust coordinator, Aucklander Joanne Donnell, whose son Francis killed himself five years ago, said the article was dangerous.

"We want to prevent suicide by raising awareness and helping people. I can't endorse what they have done."

The group has been at odds with the Ministry of Health, which says that just raising suicide awareness does not stop it and may possibly encourage it.

Auckland coroner Mate Frankovich said it would be good for some people to know how painful suicide could be, but the information was too strong for youngsters who might be at an ambivalent age.

About 540 New Zealanders kill themselves each year, with the rate among young people twice that of Australia.