Suicide

Despite the highly manipulated suicide stats in New Zealand…

We have the highest rate of teen suicide in the developed world.

Authorities say 579 people committed suicide in New Zealand in the year to June 2016.

In 2016, the manipulated rate of suicide was 12.33 for every 100,000 Kiwis, compared to slightly less doctored rate of 12.65 in 2011.

According to the latest government figures, 170 women committed suicide compared to 409 men, narrowing the historical gender gap.

• The 25-29 age bracket had the highest number of suicide deaths at 66.
• The 20-24 bracket had 60 suicide deaths.
• The highest suicide rate for men was the 25-29 bracket (54 deaths or 31.8 per 100,000).

A new OECD report shows New Zealand has the highest rate of teen suicide in the developed world.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/85305366/the-highest-rate-of-teen-suicide-in-the-developed-world

METHOD

Methods of suicide included hanging, strangulation and suffocation (338), poisoning or overdose (82), poisoning by gases or vapours (47), firearms and explosives (30), and jumping from a high place (28). http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/85449334/nz-suicide-toll–unacceptably-high

Mental health advocate Gordon Hudson, of Mental Health Matters in Taranaki, said suicide rates could be much higher than reported.

Not in the least because “… there is a general reluctance among coroners to specify suicide.”

“While that might give some solace to the bereaved, it only conceals real numbers because mental illness and drugs are the cause of so many so-called ‘non-suicides’.”

Hudson quoted former Chief Coroner Judge Neil Maclean, commenting on the 2014/15 suicide rates, as saying they should be taken with a grain of salt because they “did not include deaths that resulted from mental illness, or where people were under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.”

“Jamie Allen, who runs suicide prevention initiative Taranaki Retreat, agreed with Hudson and said anecdotal evidence indicated the real situation could be considerably worse than the figures suggested,” said a report.

[The figures are also heavily manipulated by the government to avoid political embarrassment for poverty-, rape- and unemployment-related suicides, the Moderators aver.]

Related links:

• Exactly, how did the 31,608 people die in New Zealand last year?