Questions for this survey I'm stuck doing - help needed

[alkaline-kiwi]

At the start of this year I volunteered myself to be the editor of a 'zine' for Pulse which is this event type thing (drama, dance, video clips etc) about an issue that is relevant to young people. Christian based though I'm the only non-Christian who's involved since I didn't want it to be overly preachy (though in the end I don't have the final say so so goes that idea)

And now I'm on the last one for the year (and the last one I'll edit, will pawn the job off on someone else to do next year) which is on the topic of depression/self harm/suicide. Of course I forgot to get the survey things filled out for this one so I have to ask people online to help.

You can choose to answer here or pm me etc, whatever suits you. Your name won't be published in the result things. You don't have to answer all the questions. Obviously the first question won't be relevant to most of you guys. And for the record I didn't come up with most of the questions as the ones I originally had were 'innapropriately worded.



Why do you think NZ has such a high suicide rate and what do think could help combat this?

Is self harm a big problem amongst young people?

Do you think it is something that should be talked about more openly?

What makes people do it?

If you needed help for Depression/self harm or any other problem would you know where to go for help.

Where would you go for help

When you are feeling down how do you cheer yourself up

How can you help someone who is depressed/hurting themselves.

Should you aggree to keeps someones secret if it is life threatening.

How would you answer a friend if they asked you to keep a secret and you didnt want to.

What is it like to carry that kind of secret.

[hillaas]

Can i answer this if i'm not from NZ and don't know much about the suicide there?

[Julian]

Just pretend to be from NZ, how hard can it be?

[Lowee]

About as hard as it is to buy velcro gloves this time of night.

[The Dying Start]

About as hard as a priest at an all boys school.

[Marv From NZ]

Why do you think NZ has such a high suicide rate and what do think could help combat this?

Is self harm a big problem amongst young people?

Do you think it is something that should be talked about more openly?

What makes people do it?

If you needed help for Depression/self harm or any other problem would you know where to go for help.

Where would you go for help

When you are feeling down how do you cheer yourself up

How can you help someone who is depressed/hurting themselves.

Should you aggree to keeps someones secret if it is life threatening.

How would you answer a friend if they asked you to keep a secret and you didnt want to.

What is it like to carry that kind of secret.

Since i'm like the only other badarse Kiwi here, i'll help a sister out.

1. Pretty simple really, pressures of society. Too many people on low wages = more work which = stress = can affect others around you = feeling guilty = you know where i'm heading. Living up to expectations, trying to fit in. Home problems...list goes on. Lost a friend to suicide 3 and a half years ago, it attributed to his Homelife...so yeah too many things. In order to help this, people need to recognise their problems first and if affected by suicide tendecies, go out and get help if others aren't already helping you. Talk to your freinds and if you can, family about it.

2. Depends. Some people do it for fun, just for shits and giggles i.e Gingas, others do it to be recognised or to place a cursor on themselves saying look at me. It varys, but it's definitly a problem. Teenagers these days definitly think that the only way to cope with shit, is to inflict themsleves with mental or physical pain. So yes is your answer.

3. It depends again, on the person. Each person deals with things differently, the way that seems to fit them most, so it varys, some will like to leave it out, some will like to seclude themselves.

4. See my first answer.

5. Yeah to my closest friends, or the school guidance counsellor. That's easily the best place to go.

6. See above.....

7. By saying to myself "shit happens, get over yourself, you can't have everything you want, you can't have everything go perfectly to plan. Move on and pick youself up, your old enough now, you've seen worse things." I actually do, do that lol.

8. I've known people who have been depressed or needed help before, and i still do. I'm a Peer Mentor at my school aswell, and i've helped specific kids who've got house problems or father problems etc and the best way i tried to help these people deal with their shit is by talking to it about them in depth, asking what i could do to help, and asking what they themselves could do to help make the situation better and if i couldn't do anything more, i'd refer them to the guidance counsellor or if it's my friends i'd take their minds off of it, and do something that's fun and enjoyable.

9. Yes. You wouldn't want them to think that they've just lost the only person they trust.

10. I'd keep the secret for sure, but if i need to i'll get others in on the situation while informing them.

11. It's a tad worrying, but you know you've got a responsibility and you have to fufil those promises no matter what.

[The Dying Start]

And by badarse you mean "anal fungus"

[Marv From NZ]

Basically....i wonder how you read my mind sometimes Glenn when we are so far away?

[hillaas]

About as hard as a priest at an all boys school.

Bahahaha. Good call Glenn!

[alkaline-kiwi]

You don't have to be from NZ to answer the survey, you can be from anywhere (including another planet, I'm sure martian kids get depressed too)

Thanks for answering the questions Marv.