Knowledge and Attitudes About Suicide in 25-Year-Olds

This study examined knowledge & attitudes about suicide in a New Zealand sample of young people aged 25 years. Young people had poor knowledge about youth suicide, overestimating the number of youth suicides & the fraction of all suicides accounted for by young people. The most common source of information about suicide was the media. Young people tended to hold mixed attitudes toward suicide, having both liberal & conservative views. Those with lifetime histories of suicide ideation or suicide attempt & those with family histories of suicide tended to hold more liberal attitudes. (18 refs.)