Ruia te pō, ka ao, ka awatea.
- Move from the darkness, into the light.
The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand (the MHF) acknowledges with deep aroha the loss of 617 people in Aotearoa New Zealand to suspected suicide over the past year (1 July, 2023–30 June, 2024).
“Today’s release of our national suspected suicide statistics reflects the many thousands of New Zealanders grieving a loved one to suspected suicide at this time,” Shaun Robinson, chief executive of the MHF, says.
“These 617 people are more than just numbers – they were someone’s mother, father, daughter, son, sister, brother, life partner, whānau member, colleague or friend. It’s important to keep these people affected by the death of a loved one at the front of our minds today, and every day.
“If you know someone who is grieving, now could be a good time to reach out to them, to have a kōrero and to offer any support they might need.
“If you are grieving – and there is no timeframe for grief – I strongly encourage you to access Aoake te Rā, a free support service for people bereaved by suicide.”
The data released today by the Office of the Chief Coroner shows a suspected suicide rate of 11.2 people per every 100,000, compared with 10.4 people per every 100,000 last year.
“These results show that we need to lift Aotearoa’s wellbeing, and invest further in suicide prevention,” Mr Robinson says.
“There is very rarely a single reason why someone dies by suicide. Because suicide is complex and affected by so many factors, reducing its prevalence requires a multi-agency approach. We need more targeted suicide prevention and postvention services. It’s vital that we build strong networks of connection, reduce the stigma around suicide, equip people to support themselves and each other, and offer hope.”
“We also need strong national leadership and buy-in from across the political spectrum to make it happen. The Government has an opportunity, right now, to put these crucial, evidence-based supports in place through the draft Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2025-2029, which is open for public consultation until 1 November.”
While there has been a decrease in overall suicide rates over the past 15 years, significant disparities continue to persist among different population groups.
“It is shameful that the suspected suicide rate for Māori stands at 16.3 people per 100,000. The rate for Māori in the 25-44 year age group was 2.6 times greater than for non-Maori in the same age group” Mr Robinson says.
“The MHF emphasises the need for ongoing suicide prevention efforts that align with kaupapa Māori principles and that are supported by funding. Suicide prevention initiatives must be equitable and accessible for all throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.”
The MHF reminds people that although there’s still much work to do, there is hope and many people are making change.
“We acknowledge the tremendous mahi of those working in the suicide prevention sector. What many people outside of the sector don’t see is the hundreds of lives these dedicated individuals help save, every year,” Mr Robinson says.
“We need to learn from these successes. It is by working together and using our collective knowledge and community networks that we will begin to see change.”
The Mental Health Foundation offers a range of free evidence-based suicide prevention and postvention resources, available at the MHF Web Store. These resources are free for individuals and organisations to access, both to support themselves and one another in times of need.
If you’re affected by the release of this data today, you can access free services. Help is available, and support is just a call away. You can see available helplines at the bottom of this page.
To help keep people safe, the MHF asks media to report with care on these statistics, in line with the suicide media reporting guidelines, section 71 of the Coroner’s Act and these statistics’ provisional nature. We discourage narratives that suggest certain populations and regions around the motu are at greater risk, and encourage highlighting suicide prevention initiatives and helplines, and messages of hope.
He murimuri aroha ki ngā taonga kua riro.
Our deepest sympathy to loved ones.
Reporting on suicide requires that you follow the Suicide Media Reporting Guidelines and section 71 of the Coroner’s Act.
Section 71 of the Coroners Act 2006 dictates that when publishing information about any death which is self-inflicted (or where there is reasonable cause to suspect is self-inflicted) in Aotearoa New Zealand (or on a New Zealand-registered plane or ship), you cannot report on or publish:
• the method or any suspected method of death
• any details suggesting the method or suspected method of death (e.g., the place of death)
• descriptions of the death as a ‘suicide’ (unless the Coroner has certified suicide to be the cause of death). However, the death can be described as a ‘suspected suicide’.
Please keep in mind:
· It’s vitally important to avoid oversimplifying statistics. Be especially wary of reporting on regional statistics, as small fluctuations with small numbers may appear worse than they are.
· Don’t use sensational language in the article or headline, as you could increase feelings of hopelessness for some people (and hopelessness is a key emotion experienced by people at risk of suicide).
· Don’t use the phrase ‘committed suicide’ - we recommend using “died by suicide” or “took their lives” instead. The word ‘commit’ is generally only used when talking about crime, and thus can increase the stigma around suicide — both for people who have had their own experiences of suicidality, and for those bereaved by suicide.
· When publishing content around suicide on websites and social media, take care to moderate, or close the comment sections, if possible. Some individuals troll stories about suicide and post inappropriate or offensive content. Members of the public are often not aware of the dangers of discussing methods, etc, and can inadvertently make comments that put people at risk.
The following services offer free support 24/7 and can connect people with others who can help. Please include these in any reporting around suicide:
· Free call or text 1737 anytime to talk to a trained counsellor
· Lifeline – 0800 543 354 or free text 4357 (HELP)
· Youthline – 0800 376 633 or free text 234
· Aoake te Rā – Free, brief therapeutic support service for those bereaved by suicide. Call 0800 000 053.
You can also download, or order, our free suicide prevention resources here