New Zealand suicide rate decreases

August 1, 2006

A new report released by the titled "Suicide Trends" shows that the suicide rate in New Zealand has decreased 15% since its peak in the late 1990's, but the attempted suicide rate is increasing.

There were 12 deaths per 100,000 people between 1983-'85. 16.7 deaths per 100,000 people between 1996-'98. And 14.2 deaths per 100,000 people between 2001-'03. But there were 73.1 attempted suicides per 100,000 people between 1995-'97 compared to 82.5 in 2002-'04.

, Associate Health Minister, said "It provides some comfort to see the long-term trend still appears to be heading in the right direction, with a continued decline or levelling off of self-inflicted deaths but there is no room for complacency."

The suicide report also shows that:
 * The 25- to 34-year-old age group has the highest suicide rate
 * Between 2000-'03 Maori has the highest suicide rate
 * Men were less likely than woman to go to hospital for attempted suicide because more men died from suicide.

The has put 10.3 million  towards direct suicide prevention. New Zealand News agencies are banned by law from reporting suicide deaths.