Suicides in Wellington 1981 to 1985

Abstract

From approximately two and a half thousand cases of sudden death in the Wellington region (1981-1985), 146 cases of suicide were identified. Police files on these cases were viewed and data collected and reported on 38 variables. The results indicate that unemployed males and those people over 50 years old are groups particularly at risk for suicide. The proportion of psychiatrically ill suiciders was found to be less than that predicted from previous studies of suiciders. Six main groups emerged from a consideration of the reasons for suicide: teenage suiciders, the psychiatrically ill, those with relationship problems or physical illness, those experiencing financial or employment related difficulties and the elderly suiciders. A review of those cases for whom the Coroner returned an Open Finding led to the conclusion that official suicide rates in New Zealand might underestimate the 'actual' rate by as much as ten percent. A call is made for further investigations of the different groups of suiciders and of the rate of under-reporting in official suicide statistics.