Suicide strategy to widen scope

The Government is to develop a national suicide strategy across all age groups.

Commenting on the release by the Ministry of Health of provisional 2001 suicide statistics, Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said the figures were a reminder that New Zealand as a society continued to face a serious challenge from suicide.

In 2001 there were 499 suicides, up from 458 in 2000, but down on the 516 in 1999 and 577 in 1998.

Young adults aged 20-24 had the highest suicide rate, 25.3 deaths per 100,000 population, followed by adults aged 25-29, 21.7 deaths per 100,000, and 30-34-year-olds, 21.2 deaths per 100,000.

The total age-standardised suicide rate in 2001 was 11.7 deaths per 100,000 population, compared with 11.2 in 2000.

Men continued to outnumber women, with a death rate of 18.3 per 100,000, compared with 5.5 deaths for women.

The figures also reveal that New Zealand has the highest male youth suicide rate (15-24 years) - with 31.1 deaths per 100,000 population - and the second highest female youth suicide rate (8.7 deaths per 100,000) compared with other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

Mr Anderton said the data supported the Government's intention to develop a national all-age suicide strategy.

"The development of an all-ages strategy is recognition of the fact that suicide is not just a youth issue. We must look at ways to address suicide and suicide attempts across all ages," he said.

The Health Ministry and the Ministry of Youth Development will lead the development of the national strategy.

It is expected to be completed by the middle of next year and will build on work already undertaken in the Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy.

The statistics also show that Maori continued to have higher suicide rates than non-Maori.

In 2001 the rate of suicide among Maori was 13.4 deaths per 100,000 population, compared with 11.2 for non-Maori.

The suicide rates for Maori men and women were 20.7 and 6.8 deaths per 100,000 respectively, and for non-Maori males and females were 17.7 and 4.9 respectively.

Suicide Prevention Information (Spinz) said the increase in suicides in 2001 over 2000 showed there was still a need for more suicide prevention.

Spinz manager Merryn Statham said the 9 per cent increase was a reminder of the need for suicide prevention.

"As individuals and communities we need to equip ourselves with information to be able to help people who are suicidal, and us all knowing what to do could actually save someone's life," said Ms Statham.

"It's crucial that people who may be at risk know about the services and people in their communities that can help before they get into a crisis.

"It's just like knowing your escape route from a burning house, before there is a fire."

Ms Statham welcomed a decrease in the suicide rate in Maori men and men in general, whose rate was now at its lowest since 1986.

Meanwhile, United Future health spokeswoman Judy Turner has welcomed the suicide prevention initiatives being extended to all age groups.

"While the progress made in turning around our tragic record of youth suicide statistics has been significant, it must continue," she said.

"We have known for some time that the group with the highest numbers of suicides are those aged 20 to 24 years."


NZ SUICIDES

1999: 516

1998: 577

2000: 458

2001: 499

- NZPA