Suicide Fact: Talking About Fellings, Asking For Help

In some countries the level of proof required for a coroner to determine that a death is a suicide can be higher than that in New Zealand, resulting in a greater number of findings of accidental or undetermined deaths.  This can make international comparisons misleading.

“All of us, in every walk of life, play a role in keeping ourselves healthy and being concerned for others.  That role extends to looking after our families, our workmates and our neighbours.”

“We are all affected most strongly by young people attempting or completing suicide.  Teenagers and young adults can take to heart issues that prompt attempts or suicide - and we know that with the counsel of years they would likely have bounced back to live productive lives.  It is for these reasons a variety of programmes are targeted at younger people”

“It’s pleasing to see the downward trend in Maori suicide – the current rate of 13.3 per 100,000 people is the lowest since 1996, but it’s still a third higher than for the general population of 10.6 per 100,000.”

There are a number of services provided for young people to ensure they can get the help they need when they ask for it.  These services include Lifeline, Youthline, the National Depression Initiative and the Lowdown – a website specifically for young people to help manage depression.

There are a number of initiatives to address depression in young people, the condition which puts people most at risk.

Some of those initiatives are:

School suicide prevention guidelines – being reviewed and updated

School based programmes including programmes for children at risk and other programmes to build resilience and mental health (Travellers; Safe School teams; and school nursing services)

E therapy – using software to help young people better manage depression – currently being trialled

Greater investigation into deaths and causes with recommendations to address them through the Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee

Additional research into suicide and its causes.

BACKGROUND

The latest 2008 figures are:

497 deaths from suicide in 2008 (487 in 2007). This represents a suicide rate of 11.2 deaths per 100,000 people (2008).  This is down by a quarter on the peak rate of 15.1 in 1998, but up slightly on the rate of 11.0 in 2007.

2465 intentional self-harm hospitalisations (2686 in 2007).  Intentional self-harm hospitalisation rates in 2008 are down by almost a third (32.2 percent) compared to 1996.

34 deaths by suicide of young women aged 15-24) compared to 23 in 2007.  The rate is 11.1 deaths per 100,000 people.  This rate has fluctuated between 5.8 and 11.1 throughout the 2000s.  New Zealand’s female youth (15-24 year old) suicide rate is the highest in the OECD. International comparisons are complicated by different years being compared (New Zealand’s figures are more recent) and different approaches taken to suicide classification.  

The full report "Suicide Facts: Deaths & intentional self-harm hospitalisations 2008" is available at:

http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/suicide-facts-2008

ENDS

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