Significant drop in NZ’s rate of suicide
New Zealand’s suicide rate has experienced a significant drop, but mental health advocates warn we still have a ‘‘significant problem’’.
A Ministry of Health data report shows the overall suicide rate dropped 22 per cent from 1996 to 2015 – from 15 to 11 deaths per
100,000 people.
The ministry’s suicide information differs from the Chief Coroner’s annual provisional data which includes all cases before they have been fully investigated and determined.
The coroner’s provisional data states the suicide rate increased to 13.6 per 100,000 people in 2018.
Statistics NZ figures show New Zealand’s population increased by 23 per cent, or
864,000 people, in the 20-year period covered by the ministry’s report.
The increase was even greater between 1996 and 2018, when the population rose by 31 per cent, or
1.1 million people.
Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson said the report showed population growth had eclipsed a drop in the suicide rate. ‘‘So if there’s more people and the rate goes down you are still more likely to have more actual deaths.’’
The suicide rate was less important than the number of people who died from suicide each year, he said.
‘‘While the rate is useful . . . I would hate for us to go ‘oh the rates gone down we don’t really have a problem’, because we do, we have a significant problem.’’
The ministry report highlighted that Ma¯ ori and those living in the poorest areas had higher rates of suicide.
In 2015, the suicide rate for Ma¯ ori was 17.8 per 100,000, while the rate for non-Ma¯ ori was 9.6.
Robinson said the burden of suicide was falling more heavily on some parts of the country than others.
‘‘It reinforces there are significant problems there that need particular attention. In responding we can’t just go it’s one problem that is the same for everybody.’’
Good work was being done to prevent suicide though and the situation could be a lot worse without that effort, he said.
‘‘It’s a dangerous story to tell ourselves that everything is failing and no-one knows what to do, I think that’s not true.’’
‘‘In many cases people know what to do, but don’t have enough resources to do enough of it or know what the problems are or there isn’t sufficient political will to address it.’’
The Government’s draft suicide prevention strategy was left in limbo after a consultation period closed at the end of June last year.
Suicide prevention worker and comedian Mike King publicly condemned the strategy as ‘‘deeply flawed’’ and resigned from the external review panel in May last year.
Director and chief advisor of mental health Dr John Crawshaw said nearly 500 submissions were received on the strategy and were provided to the Government’s Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction. ‘‘The inquiry’s findings and recommendations will be used to inform the suicide prevention strategy, which we have put on hold until the inquiry reports back.’’
The inquiry panel is expected to report back to the Government in late November.