New Zealand suicide rate 2007 - 2011

Spinz has removed this document from their website, so I have uploaded it again in blog format.

Media statement sent on behalf of the Chief Coroner, Judge Neil MacLean.

26 August 2011 - Under embargo until 3pm Friday August 26 2011

The Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean has today released the latest provisional national suicide statistics drawn from information collected by the Ministry of Justice’s database.

This follows on from last year when this type of information was first made publically available by Judge MacLean.

In releasing the information Judge MacLean said that although Coroners were not experts in suicide prevention, the coronial system has a legal responsibility and a pivotal role to play in stimulating discussion on issues that could help the explanation and prevention of suicide in New Zealand.

“The suicide toll is a really concerning commentary on our society, and I believe anything we can do to aid more accurate information can only be for the better.

“I have suggested that there may be room for a gentle opening up of the restrictions on media reporting of suicide, but we need to consider all viewpoints – especially those of families – so we can make informed decisions.

“These statistics clearly show that what we have done in the past is not bringing the toll down so we must look for new solutions,” Judge MacLean said.

Note: All reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the following information is accurate and current, but as a lot of it is still provisional there may be some variances in final figures.

Table 1. Provisional Suicide Deaths and per 100,000 rates July 2007 – June 2011.

Note: The per 100,000 population rate shown has been calculated following Statistics New Zealand annual population estimates.

Table 2. Male and female provisional suicide deaths and rates per 100,000 population between July 2007 and June 2011 (n=2170)

Note: The per 100,000 population rate shown has been calculated following Statistics New Zealand annual population estimates.

Table 3.  Provisional Suicide deaths reported to the Coroner by age and gender between July 2010 and June 2011 (n=558)

Click image to enlarge

Note: The per 100,000 population rate shown has been calculated following Statistics New Zealand annual population estimates for the 2011 year.

Table 4. Provisional suicide deaths reported to the Coroner by ethnicity between July 2007 and June 2011 (n=2170)

Note: The per 100,000 population rate shown has been calculated following Statistics New Zealand annual population for the 2006 census year.

Table 4 shows provisional suicide deaths by ethnicity between July 2007 and June 2011.  The small numbers and volatile nature of these data for Pacific and Asian peoples makes 

reliable estimation of the patterns very difficult and may be misleading.

Figure 1. Provisional suicide rates by ethnicity per 100,000 population between July 2007 and June 2011 (n=2170)

Note: The per 100,000 population rate shown has been calculated following Statistics New Zealand annual population for the 2006 census year.

Ethnic groups have classified in the following groups: Maori, Pacific peoples, Asian, Other (including European, Not Elsewhere classified and New Zealand European).

The small numbers and volatile nature of these data for Pacific and Asian peoples makes reliable estimation of the patterns very difficult and may be misleading.

Table 5.  Provisional Suicide deaths reported to the Coroner by method between July 2007 and June 2011 (n=2170)

New Zealand Suicides by area 2007 - 2011.

Graph 1.  National trend-line.

Click to enlarge.

Graph 2.  Provisional Suicide deaths in relation to the Christchurch earthquakes .

Click to enlarge.

3. Mental Health History, Known Attempts/Threats to Self Harm and Drug/Alcohol use for provisional suicide deaths between July 2010 and June 2011.

Table 7.  Provisional Suicide deaths by employment status between July 2007 and June 2011.

Media contact for the Chief Coroner:
Steve Corbett
Steve.corbett@justice.govt.nz
027 666 8949