Deputy chief coroner releases annual provisional suicide statistics

Today the Office of the Chief Coroner released the annual provisional suspected suicide statistics via the Ministry of Health interactive webtool, which provides a single comprehensive source of information on both provisional and confirmed deaths by suicide in Aotearoa New Zealand.

In the financial year to 30 June 2022, 538 people died by suspected suicide and the rate per 100,000 was 10.2. This rate is statistically significantly lower than the average rate over the last 13 financial years. This is the third year in a row that there has been a year-on-year reduction in suspected suicide.

“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. It is positive to note, however, that the number of suspected deaths by suicide is continuing to fall,” says Deputy Chief Coroner Tutton.

“We recognise all those who have lost loved ones to suspected suicide,” says the Director of the Suicide Prevention Office, Matthew Tukaki.

“We are working hard to ensure a significant and sustained reduction in the suicide rate in Aotearoa, because this means more New Zealanders are living long and productive lives, and fewer whānau, friends and communities are left grieving.”

The reduction in suspected suicide rates is consistent with international data. Most countries have seen no change or a decrease in the rates of suicides, including across males and females and across age groups.

Māori continue to be disproportionately negatively affected, and the provisional rate of suspected suicide for Māori was 15.9 per 100,000 this financial year. The rate per 100,000 was 9.9 per 100,000 for Pacific populations and 3.8 per 100,00 for Asian populations.

“It is important to remember that, although it is encouraging to see a continued reduction in the suspected suicide rate, we can only start to determine or consider a trend over a five- to ten-year period,” says Mr Tukaki.

“The work to prevent suicide spans across government agencies, organisations, businesses, schools, communities, and even within whānau, and this work will continue until we achieve our goal of no suicide in Aotearoa New Zealand.”