Tragically, the previous Labour Government’s investment of $1.9 billion into mental health in 2019 appears to have had little positive impact with the chief coroner revealing New Zealand’s suicide rate is unchanged.
The recently released latest provisional statistics show in the financial year to June 30, 617 people in this country died by suspected suicide, with a rate of 11.2 people per 100,000.
“I acknowledge, and offer my sincere condolences to, the families and friends of all those who have died as a result of suspected suicide in the past year”, Chief Coroner, Judge Anna Tutton, says.
Overall, there’s no change in the rate of suicide, the Office of the Chief Coroner says.
Fluctuations in rates from year to year are common in suicide data, and it’s more helpful to consider a trend over a five-to 10-year period.
The rate of suspected self-inflicted deaths in the 2023/24 financial year was 3.6 per cent lower than the average rate of suspected self-inflicted deaths over the last 15 financial years.
Geoff Short, the Ministry of Health’s acting deputy director-general for clinical community and mental health says: “The annual release of these data helps to inform a better understanding of where to direct suicide prevention efforts and reduce the burden of suicide.”
The data illustrates the inequity that persists, with Māori being disproportionately impacted.
The provisional rate of suspected suicide for Māori is 16.3 per 100,000 people for the 2023/24 financial year.
In the 2023/24 financial year, the rate for Māori in the 25-44 years age group was 2.6 times that for non-Māori in the same age group.
For Asian people the rate for the 2023/24 year is 4.8 per 100,000 people and is also unchanged.
The rate per 100,000 people for Pacific populations is 7.7 per 100,000 people.
Short acknowledges those who have died or been affected by suicide.
“We are committed to improving suicide prevention efforts, which involves a whole-of-Government approach and in particular addressing the structural determinants of health.”
- Where to get help:
Aoake Te Rā – Free bereaved by Suicide Service https://www.aoaketera.org.nz/
Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor
Suicide Prevention Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOK0)
Lifeline 0800 543 354 or 09 522 2999 or free text 4357 (HELP)
Youthline 0800 376 633 or free text 234
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand – Free suicide prevention and suicide loss resources https://mentalhealth.org.nz/download
