Increasing suicides ‘a tragedy’ – judge
The number of people taking their own lives is the highest since records began, with 668 dying by suicide in the past year.
It is the fourth year in a row that number has increased. It is also the highest number of suspected suicide deaths since the coroner’s annual provisional suicide statistics were first recorded in 2007-08.
Figures released yesterday by Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall show the number of Ma¯ ori deaths is also the highest since records began, with 142 deaths from July 2017 to June 2018.
Ma¯ ori men continue to be disproportionately represented: 97 died by suicide in the past year, 12 per cent more than the previous year.
‘‘It’s time for us to empower Ma¯ ori and give them the resources they need to continue to strengthen our wha¯nau and communities,’’ Mental Health Foundation Ma¯ori development manager Ellen Norman said. ‘‘We can’t ignore the social determinants of suicide, including poverty, violence and the legacy of colonisation. We won’t see a shift in our suicide rates until we start to address these factors.’’
The suicide rate per 100,000 people was 13.67, up from 12.64 the previous year.
Female suicides increased by 44 compared with the year before – a 30 per cent increase to 193. There were 475 males who died by suicide, 18 more than 2017.
The highest number of suicides was in the 20-24 years group with 76 deaths. The next highest was the 45-49 years group with 67 deaths.
Judge Marshall said suicide continued to be a significant health and social problem. ‘‘It’s a tragedy to see the number of self-inflicted deaths increase again.
‘‘We need to keep talking about how to recognise the signs that someone may want to take their own life. If someone expresses thoughts and feelings about suicide, take them seriously.’’
Part of the role of the coroner is to make comments or recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future. ‘‘Recommendations made in the last year include facilitating better information sharing between healthcare professionals, ensuring that adequate and up-to-date training in suicide risk assessment is undertaken by counsellors and psychotherapists, and making policy changes to how mental health referrals are handled by district health boards.
‘‘However, the same comment is often repeated by coroners. If you think someone is at risk, support them to reach the appropriate services as soon as possible.’’
Of the DHBS, Auckland had the highest increase of suicide deaths – 73 – which was a 70 per cent increase on the previous year’s figures.
Mental Health Foundation chief Shaun Robinson said the statistics showed the provisional suicide rate was now the highest it had been this century. ‘‘There are so many people working to prevent suicide.
‘‘They’re doing great work and they’re saving lives every day,’’ Robinson said. ‘‘Lifekeepers is a great example of effective, community-driven solutions to suicide, and there are many more.
‘‘We must make the effort to learn from the successes of these initiatives and expand their reach.’’
In the 1990s New Zealanders made a unified effort to reduce suicide and it worked, he said.
‘‘This major work has lost momentum and we’re going backwards. This must be urgently addressed. Thousands of people have come through times of feeling suicidal and survived. We need to listen to what worked for them and why,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘As a nation we can turn this tragic situation around, if we listen to what is working, resource it and join the dots into a concerted plan of action. The last Government dropped the ball and allowed our suicide prevention strategy to lapse without replacement.
‘‘This government has instructed the Mental Health Inquiry to come up with a plan. Leadership from government, resources and an action plan are needed urgently. There is no time to waste.’’