News

Suicide Prevention Action Plan launched

There is no quick fix in suicide prevention. Rather it requires long term and co-ordinated action across society. This is the message of a new Suicide Prevention Action Plan released on 17 March.

Background: The New Zealand Suicide Prevention Strategy 2006-2016

The New Zealand Suicide Prevention Strategy 2006-2016 (the Strategy) was launched in 2006. It provides a national framework for suicide prevention and has the following seven goals.

  1. Promote mental health and well-being, and prevent mental health problems.
  2. Improve the care of people who are experiencing mental disorders associated with suicidal behaviour.
  3. Improve the care of people who make non-fatal suicide attempts.
  4. Reduce access to the means of suicide.
  5. Promote the safe reporting and portrayal of suicidal behaviour by the media.
  6. Support families/whanau, friends and others affected by a suicide or suicide attempt.
  7. Expand the evidence about the rates, causes and effective interventions.

The New Zealand Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2008-2012

The New Zealand Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2008-2012 (the Action Plan) builds on the Strategy and provides more detail about how the high level goals of the Strategy can be achieved over the next five years.

The Action Plan is made up of two companion documents, which are best read together.

  • The Summary for Action outlines what the actions are, who will do them and by when.
  • The Evidence for Action discusses the evidence and context underlying the actions.

No single initiative on its own will lower the rate of suicide. Rather an approach is needed that involves many initiatives at different points in the continuum and in a variety of sectors.

New Zealand already has a range of initiatives underway contributing to suicide prevention, and there are many people with expertise and commitment working across the country - researchers, policy makers, funders, community organisations and professional groups. The Ministry of Health will continue to be the government agency responsible for the co-ordination of suicide prevention activities.

Examples of current suicide prevention initiatives

  • Raising awareness about depression and encouraging help-seeking
  • Improving the care and follow-up of people who have made a suicide attempt
  • Reducing the risk of suicide for at risk children and young people
  • Supporting families, friends and communities following a suicide
  • Professional development for teachers to improve the mental health of the whole school
  • Improving co-ordination of suicide prevention activities within district health board regions
  • Providing information about suicide and suicide prevention
  • Maori community development for suicide prevention
  • Skills-based training in suicide intervention

While it is important that communities are involved and committed to suicide prevention, it is also essential that all activities are safe and guided by evidence. That is why considerable effort has been put into producing The Evidence for Action, which ensures the actions in the companion document The Summary for Action are evidence-based.

It is encouraging to know that New Zealand's suicide rate has reduced by about 19 percent since the late 1990s, but there are still too many New Zealanders taking their own lives and still much more we need to do. The Strategy and the Action Plan together will help us work together and know where to target out efforts.

The Action Plan is available online at www.spinz.org.nz. Hardcopies are available from Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand by contacting info@spinz.org.nz or (09) 300 7035.