Untold story of suicide in North

Kathryn Powley | 25th February 2006

Rural Northland Maori struggling to cope with the deaths of family members committing suicide outside the area are part of the untold story of Northland's suicide statistics.

A number of funerals have been held recently in North Hokianga for people who died outside the area but, despite the devastating aftermath for their whanau, their deaths will not be recorded in official suicide figures.

In its latest report, the Ministry of Health concludes that in 2003 an average of 13.2 Northlanders out of every 100,000 committed suicide, while 112.9 people per 100,000 harmed themselves and were hospitalised as a result. That places Northland as having the eighth worst suicide rate, and the twelfth worst self-harm rate of the 21 district health boards.

But according to Maria Baker, Northland Health's professional leader of mental health services, the real figures _ the true toll on families - are likely to be much higher.

Miss Baker said the suicide report reflects hospitalisations, not those who die in the community.

It was likely some suicides may not have been reported as such.

"The other thing for Northland too, which could be a key thing for a number of rural communities with a lot of Maori, is the issue of whanau suiciding away from the area and being brought back into the community to be buried."

A number of funerals in the North Hokianga had been held recently for such cases.

"It's hard enough being left when you've lost a couple within the same hapu or iwi. Whanau have to start asking each other `what's happening? Why?'"

It the end of the day, it was surviving whanau members who needed support and help coping with the aftermath of a suicide.

This year Northland District Health Board is focusing on suicide prevention, with the Far North receiving particular attention. A new staff member, due to start next month, will work on a strategy aimed at encouraging an inter-agency approach to prevent Far North suicides.

The project would include an outreach service for at-risk people, and support systems to help "families and whanau who have been struck by suicide more than once who are just tired of it and don't know why it's happening," Miss Baker said.

The lowest suicide rate in 2003 was in the Auckland District Health Board area where there were eight deaths among every 100,000 people. The highest rate was in Hawke's Bay where 18 suicides were recorded among every 100,000 people.

For self harm, West Coast had the highest rate of 250 per 100,000.