Gen Z Australians are attempting suicide and self-harming more than previous generations, study finds

"Young Australians aged 16 to 25 are attempting to kill themselves, self-harming and experiencing suicidal thoughts in greater numbers and at earlier ages than previous generations, a landmark study has found. It comes as Kids Helpline data provided exclusively to Guardian Australia shows the proportion of young children experiencing suicidality is increasing at alarming rates and being expressed by children as young as six."

"Risk factors for these behaviours differed between generations. For gen Z, witnessing parental violence and being exposed to suicide among peers, family or online were particularly strong predictors of self-harm and suicide attempts. While policies aimed at reducing harmful online content could help mitigate exposure to self-harm and suicide-related behaviours, they should form part of a broader, multi-faceted prevention strategy, the study found."

"The 14,753 respondents were grouped into generation Z (16-25 years), millennials (26-41 years), generation X (42-57 years), and baby boomers (58-76 years). Generation Z had the highest hazards for youth suicidal ideation, planning, self-harm, and suicide attempts, with the youngest age of onset, found the study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry on Monday. Risk factors for these behaviours differed between generations."

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (2020–2022), covering 14,753 respondents grouped by generation, show Generation Z (16–25) had the highest hazards for suicidal ideation, planning, self-harm, and suicide attempts with the youngest age of onset. Risk profiles differ by generation: witnessing parental violence and exposure to suicide among peers, family, or online strongly predict self-harm and attempts in Gen Z, while childhood sexual abuse, substance use disorders, and prolonged untreated mental illness are stronger predictors in older cohorts. Harmful online content reduction can help but must be part of a multi-faceted prevention strategy. Kids Helpline data indicate rising suicidality among children, sometimes expressed as young as six.

Read at www.theguardian.com