Troubled youth visit hits Key

Youth and John Key

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Prime Minister John Key has told how he and Prince William last week met a 15-year-old girl who had tried to kill herself the day before.

Speaking at the 40th anniversary of Youthline in Auckland, Mr Key said he and Prince William had gone into the Wellington Hospital children's ward.

"I went into a room and there were a couple of parents there and a friend and a girl in bed."

She told him she was 15 and when Mr Key asked why she was in hospital, she said: "I tried to commit suicide yesterday."

Mr Key said the gritty reality of youth life came home. "It really took my breath away when she said that, it showed the vulnerability of young people."

He and the prince met a 13-year-old girl with anorexia.

Mr Key told the audience he had close friends who were tackling that issue.

"Your really find demons when you have that."

Youthline and similar services were absolutely critical.

"We rely on those people who save the lives of a lot of young New Zealanders."

Mr Key spoke of his own children, aged 16 and 14.

"As a parent you want to give them enough rope and confidence to map their own way in the world but giving them the support when they need it," Mr Key said.

"When your kids are in the situation where mum and dad are reasonably high profile, it adds to the complexity of it."

He told Youthline: "Young people are complex little beasts, they go through a lot, they go through a lot of challenges in their lives."

- © Fairfax NZ News