Suicide: Qualitative Data from Focus Group Interviews With Youth

This paper illustrates the use of focus groups with young people to enhance knowledge of ways to address youth suicide. Analysis of the findings identified 3 themes perceived by participants as being warning signs of a suicidal friend (personality changes, risk-taking behaviour, & unusual actions). An important finding was that young people would either cope alone or turn to a friend if they were feeling suicidal. The fact that a lack of knowledge was identified as the major barrier to youth using existing services/resources suggests that health promotion awareness campaigns which provide information on where young people could access help need to be developed. (31 refs.)