National suicide numbers rise three years in a rowMURRAY WILSON/STUFF Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says one suicide is too many and the issue is a whole of society problem. It was the third year in a row the number has increased and the 2016-17 figure was the highest number of suicide deaths since the coroner's annual provisional suicide statistics were first recorded in 2007-08. ​King resigned from the Government-led suicide prevention panel earlier this year, calling the suicide prevention draft plan "deeply flawed". He said the country had a long-term commitment to suicide prevention and work was being done on the Ministry's of Health's draft strategy on suicide prevention. The Government's $100 million social investment fund for mental health would invest in a range of initiatives designed to improve access to mental health services, he said.

Source: Stuff August 28, 2017 00:01 UTC