New Zealand: Greater Focus On Male Suicide Prevention Needed

Submitted by anthony on Sat, 2008-12-13 15:05

Article here. Excerpt:

'The male suicide rate is nearly three times higher than that of women, according to figures released today by the Ministry of Health.

The figures relate to deaths in 2006, the most recent data available. 524 deaths by suicide with recorded in 2006, of which 386 were male.

Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand (SPINZ), a service of the Mental Health Foundation, says the rate of male suicide has decreased 22.7% since 1995, but the over-representation of men continues to be an area of concern.

"Depression is the single biggest risk factor for suicide, and for many men - particularly Maori men - it remains undiagnosed," says Merryn Statham, Director of SPINZ. "Reaching people, especially men, with information encouraging them to seek help is essential, as well as ensuring that mental health services are truly responsive."'

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