Suicide figures increase

The latest annual suicide statistics show that 564 people took their own lives in the 2014/15 year – the highest number since the provisional statistics were first recorded in 2007.

This year's figures show an increase of 35 suicide deaths from last year, which was the lowest total on record, and six more than 2010/11, which was the previous highest total.


New Zealand's chief coroner is disappointed with the latest suicide statistics. Photo: File.

Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall is disappointed the drop in suicides observed last year had not continued this year.

'Yet again we are seeing a total suicide figure sitting in the mid-500 range,” says Judge Marshall.

'Our provisional suicide figures go back eight years and in that time there has been a variation of 35 suicide deaths.

'Over the last eight years I believe we've seen a shift in society's preparedness to have a more open conversation about suicide, but we are not seeing any movement in what is an unfortunate static annual figure.”

Deborah acknowledges the greater effort being put into suicide prevention, including the Ministry of Health's recently-launched suicide prevention toolkit for District Health Boards and the trial Suicide Mortality Review Committee.

'I am in my first year as Chief Coroner and in that time I have been approached by many researchers and organisations that want to participate in changing our appalling rate of suicide.

'Suicide prevention is not the job of any single agency or group, but involves all New Zealanders. Greater co-ordination of efforts may be the key.

'The aim of making these annual figures public is to give an up-to-date overview of what is a very important, social issue.”

The 2014/15 annual provisional suicide statistics show a rise in the number of male suicides from 385 last year, to 428 – the highest number since these statistics began in 2007.

However, they also signify a drop in the number of female suicides, from 144 last year to 136, which is the second lowest figure behind 134 (2007/08).

The age cohort with the highest number of suicides was the 20-24 age group, with 61 deaths, followed by 40-44 with 58 deaths.

Male suicides made up 75.8 per cent of the total suicides for the year. This three-to-one, male to female suicide rate has been observed for most of the last eight years, apart from the previous two years.

The Maori suicide total (130 deaths) and rate (21.74 per 100,000) are the highest since the provisional statistics were first recorded.

Male Maori continue to be disproportionally represented in the provisional suicide statistics, with 93 deaths last year.

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1 comment

Priorities

Posted on 07-10-2015 10:16 | By The author of this comment has been removed.

More people suicide every year than are killed on our roads. Yet the amount of money going into policing our roads, advertising about drink/drive, legislation etc etc astounds. More financial support should be given to Lifeline, Youthline, and Mental Health. We are the highest in the world for youth suicide. Why?


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