Editorial: Gluckman on suicide - a man worth listening to

Mark Dawson, editor, Wanganui Chronicle

Sir Peter Gluckman has enough letters after his name to start his own alphabet.

As well as the knighthood, he has been a New Zealander of the Year and was appointed to the Order of New Zealand, the highest New Zealand honour, in 2015.

So when he speaks on a topic, it is as well to listen.

This week Sir Peter spoke on youth suicide, releasing a report in his capacity as the Prime Minister's chief science adviser.

Suicide is usually thought of as a health and/or social issue, so it might seem an unlikely subject for a scientist.

But Sir Peter has brought his scientific mind to bear and that means assessing evidence for his discussion document.

I was impressed by his view about how the lives of young people have significantly changed from when we adults were children. As a father of three teenagers, it struck a chord.

"Compared to previous generations, youth face many more choices at an earlier age, but at the same time may have less clarity as to their path ahead," he said.

He cited some of the pressures faced by the young - changes in family structure; the impact of technology particularly with regard to communication; celebrity culture.

We adults on our career paths are dizzied by the pace of change, especially the technological aspects, so how can we expect youngsters to cope with it?

Sir Peter did point a way forward - find ways to build resilience in children, ways for them to be strong enough to handle the emotional stress. And it must start when they are very young.

"The focus must include an emphasis on primary prevention starting very early in life."

It makes sense to me. Prime Minister Bill English's comments on the report suggest it also made sense to him.

In the two years to June 2016, there were 238 suicides among New Zealanders aged 12-24 years, and a New Zealand Herald investigation suggests almost half of teenagers will self-harm before they leave school.

It is time to start the slow process of turning those damning figures around.