Study buoys Yellow Ribbon programme

The recently criticised Yellow Ribbon suicide prevention programme believes new American research vindicates its policy of encouraging awareness about the issue.

Three Government ministries have written to schools saying suicide programmes may put young people at risk of killing themselves.

The research, by the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, found that knowing someone who had committed suicide, or being exposed to suicide in news, books or films, may decrease the risk of suicide.

Dr Jim Mercy, the primary author of the study, said there was evidence that exposure to the suicidal behaviour of friends and acquaintances reduced the likelihood that those who were exposed would engage in very serious suicidal behaviour.

Marco Marinkovich, the acting chairman of the Yellow Ribbon and the Youth Suicide Awareness Trust, said the research challenged the New Zealand Government's policies on suicide and the belief that talking about or reporting suicide led to copy-cat behaviour.