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Warning: This article is about suicide and may be distressing for some readers.

More than 600 Kiwis took their own lives in the past year, with the country’s suicide rate unchanged on the previous 12 months, new data reveals.

Chief Coroner Judge Anna Tutton this afternoon released the annual provisional suspected suicide statistics for the 2023-24 financial year.

In the year to June 30, 617 people died by suspected suicide and the rate was 11.2 people per 100,000. Overall, there has been no change in the suicide rate.

“I acknowledge, and offer my sincere condolences, to the families and friends of all those who have died as a result of suspected suicide in the past year,” Tutton said.

The data also revealed Māori continue to be disproportionately negatively affected by suicide.

The provisional rate of suspected suicide for Māori is 16.3 per 100,000 people in the last financial year. For Māori in the 25-44 years age group, the rate was 2.6 times that for non-Māori in the same age group.

The latest suicide rate data reveals Māori are still disproportionately impacted by suicide. Photo / Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora

Over the past 15 financial years, there has been a 3.6% drop in suicide rates.

Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson said the 617 people were 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,” he said.

The Ministry of Health’s acting deputy director general for clinical community and mental health, Geoff Short, said they were committed to improving suicide prevention efforts. He said the new data helped to inform a better understanding of where to direct suicide prevention efforts and reduce the burden of suicide.

For Asian peoples, the rate for this year is 4.8 per 100,000 people – also unchanged. The rate per 100,000 people for Pacific populations, is 7.7 per 100,000 people.

The new data represents all deaths in New Zealand suspected to be suicides. The data is provisional because before a death can be legally described as a suicide, a coroner must rule that the death was self-inflicted.

SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION

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