Call to publish suicide stats 'road toll style'

A Wellington social worker wants suicide statistics to be published in the same way as the road toll.

Dr Rory Truell of Te Kaiwhina Ahumahi believes it is important to create a society which is more knowledgeable and open about suicide.

502 people committed suicide in 2005, while 405 died on our roads.

Dr Truell says if suicide rates were as prominently placed on the public radar as the road toll is, suicides could be reduced. He says we have a lot to learn about being more open as a society about deaths we could be doing more to prevent.

Dr Truell says when the 2008 road toll is announced, he hopes the country will be talking about suicide prevention - openly.

- NEWSTALK ZB