This background document provides a general overview of research that supports the objectives outlined in "In Our Hands", the general population component of the "New Zealand Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy" (1998). "In Our Hands" outlines 25 policy recommendations that aim to address the subject of suicide in young people. The report is presented in three parts. Part 1 briefly reviews both national and international research that identifies some of the risk factors known to influence youth suicidal behaviour. These risk factors include social and demographic factors, multi-problem family backgrounds and adverse childhood experiences, mental health problems, genetic and biological factors, and recent stressful periods in one's life. The report identifies that research findings point to an increased risk of suicidal behaviours when there is a culmination of risk factors over a period of time. Part 2 of the document reviews the research findings that substantiate each of the policy themes outlined in the "New Zealand Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy". Examples of these policies are: supporting at-risk families and implementing early intervention programmes targeting children to reduce exposure to dysfunctional family environments; improving mental health awareness and treatment specifically for young people; limiting access to means of suicide; macro-level changes such as social equity to improve socio-economic status; and increased research into issues related to suicide and attempted suicide. In part 3, the report examines how consistent the policies outlined in "In Our Hands" are with those suggested in other major reviews of suicide prevention. The author suggests there are many causal factors for youth suicidal behaviour, so a coordinated and comprehensive approach is needed before seeing any reduction in New Zealand's youth suicide rates.

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