The MHF calls for action and care, in response to this year’s provisional suicide statistics

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.