Action over youth suicides

Northland is about to get a suicide prevention officer after the region recorded its highest number of suicides for at least five years.

Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean has released suicide statistics for the year ending June 30, 2012, which show 26 suicides in Northland during that period. It's the highest number in at least five years, with 22 in the 2010/11 year, 20 in 2009/10, 19 in 2008/09 and 22 in 2007/08. The way suicide statistics were collected before 2007 was different.

Nationally the total number of suicides was 547, a drop of 11 from the previous year.

"The annual number of suicides has remained relatively constant, but our latest figures show some concerning trends," Judge MacLean said.

"Significant is the jump in teenage suicide numbers, and the continued rise of Maori suicides, in particular young Maori. I continue to believe we need to gently bring the issue of suicide from out of the shadows.

"Coroners have a responsibility to encourage the informed public discussion about how best to reduce the rate of suicide."

Northland District Health Board (NDHB) general manager of mental health and addiction services and district hospitals Sue Wyeth said the organisation had received funding for a suicide prevention officer to help get an integrated response to the region's high suicide rate.

"They will be working with communities to look at what can be put in place to help the situation. Families where there have been suicides or attempts have a higher risk factor and we will be looking at getting support to those families to deal with the issues they are facing," Ms Wyeth said.

"In particular it will be about getting people to seek help."

A collaboration has also been set up between NDHB, Child Youth and Family, Ngati Wai, Ngati Hine and Group Special Education Service.

It followed the suspected suicides by two 14-year-olds in May and June and a warning from a Northland high school to parents to pay special attention to their teenagers' behaviour.

Whangarei mum Deb Williams co-founded Community Action on Suicide Prevention, Education and Research (CASPER) after her daughter Cloudy committed suicide. She said people needed to be aware of potential triggers for suicide.

"More people die from suicide in Northland than die on the roads and people, particularly parents, need to know to watch out for any signs.

"Financial pressures, unemployment, sexual abuse, relationship breakdowns, homelessness, pregnancy and poverty are some of the main drivers of suicide," Ms Williams said.