Statistics on suspicious suicides make for grim reading

Tragically, the previous Labor Government’s $1.9 billion investment in mental health in 2019 appears to have had little positive impact, with the chief coroner revealing New Zealand’s suicide rate remains unchanged.

The latest provisional statistics released recently show that 617 people died by suspected suicide in this country in the financial year to 30 June, a rate of 11.2 per 100,000 people.

Chief Prosecutor Judge Anna Tutton said: “I offer my sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives to suspected suicide last year.”

The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office says there has been no change in the overall suicide rate.

It is common for suicide data to see fluctuations in rates from year to year, and it is more useful to consider a trend spanning a period of five to 10 years.

The rate of suspected self-caused deaths in the 2023/24 financial year was 3.6 per cent lower than the average rate of suspected self-caused deaths over the last 15 financial years.

Geoff Short, the Department of Health’s deputy director general for clinical community and mental health, said: “The annual publication of this data helps provide a better understanding of where to direct suicide prevention efforts and reduce the suicide burden.”

The data shows continued inequality, with Māori disproportionately affected.

The provisional suspected suicide rate for Māori is 16.3 per 100,000 people for the 2023/24 financial year.

In the 2023/24 financial year, the proportion of Maori aged 25-44 was 2.6 times the proportion of non-Maori in the same age group.

For Asians, the rate for 2023/24 is 4.8 per 100,000 people and remains unchanged.

In Pacific populations the rate per 100,000 people is 7.7 per 100,000 people.

Short acknowledges those who have died or been affected by suicide.

“We are committed to advancing suicide prevention efforts that incorporate a whole-of-government approach and specifically address the structural determinants of health.”

Aoake Te Rā – Released by Suicide Service

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Suicide Prevention Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOK0)

Lifeline 0800 543 354 or 09 522 2999 or free text 4357 (HELP)

Youth Line 0800 376 633 or Free Text 234

New Zealand Mental Health Foundation – Free suicide prevention and suicide loss resources