Story: Suicide

Unemployment and youth suicide

Unemployment and youth suicide

As levels of unemployment rose in the late 1980s and early 1990s, commentators suggested that this was one factor in the rising rate of youth suicide. Frank Greenall's cartoon comments on this suggestion. However, closer examination of the evidence showed that it was not possible to explain the rise in youth suicide rates precisely in such terms. It was more likely due to the broader social impact of economic difficulties on family and personal relationships.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: H-042-002
Cartoon by Frank Greenall

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Jock Phillips, 'Suicide - Social factors and suicide', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/cartoon/26432/unemployment-and-youth-suicide (accessed 1 December 2023)

Story by Jock Phillips, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 16 Jul 2019 with assistance from Sunny Collings and Rosemary Du Plessis