Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall yesterday released provisional suicide statistics for the 2020-21 financial year. They showed 55 suspected suicides in the Southern District Health Board area, compared to 50 the year before. Nationally, suspected suicides dropped from 628 in 2019-20 to 607 in the past year. Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust founder Corinda Taylor, of Dunedin, said the numbers were concerning. Suicide Prevention Office director Carla na Nagara said it was the second consecutive year numbers had decreased nationally, but evidence showed there was a need for a decline over at least a five-year period before a meaningful downward trend in suicide numbers and rates could be established.

Source: Otago Daily Times October 04, 2021 15:33 UTC