Suicide prevention research fund
Not only is the loss of any life a tragedy, in the case of suicide it can also destroy the fabric of families and, in some cases, entire communities.
Suicide is a serious public health problem for New Zealanders of all ages.
Te Pou has commissioned research to help fill knowledge gaps about suicide and suicide prevention, and to help the government implement the New Zealand Suicide Prevention Strategy 2006-2016.
To this end, Te Pou has managed some of the suicide prevention research fund on behalf of the Ministry of Health. The suicide prevention research fund research contributes to improving evidence-based knowledge:
- about the causes, correlates and nature of suicidal behaviours
- about the implementation of effective and safe suicide prevention interventions
- that will facilitate initiatives to reduce inequalities in suicidal behaviours.
Please note: The suicide prevention fund is closed and no further funding is available. All funded research reports are now either complete or due for completion in 2012.
Suicide prevention research reports
- Reporting of Suicide in New Zealand Media: Content and Case Study Analysis
- Youth ‘07: The Health and Wellbeing of Secondary School Students in New Zealand
- Evaluation of the NZGG Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention Collaborative
- Feasibility of Evaluating DBT for Self-Harming Adolescents: A Small Randomised Controlled Trial
- Understanding Families and Suicide Risk
- Media Influences on Suicidal Behaviour
- Geospatial Mapping of Suicide Clusters
- Mental health promotion and prevention services to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex populations in New Zealand: Needs assessment report.
- Review and update of suicide prevention guidelines for schools (to be released late 2012).
New Zealand Suicide Prevention Strategy 2006-2016
In June 2006, the New Zealand government launched the New Zealand Suicide Prevention Strategy 2006-2016. The strategy outlines a high-level framework to:
- reduce the rate of suicide and suicidal behaviour
- reduce the harmful effect and impact associated with suicide and suicidal behaviour on families/whanau, friends and the wider community
- reduce inequalities in suicide and suicidal behaviour.
Did you know?
- There are around 500 suicides each year in New Zealand.
- A third involve young people under the age of 24 years.
- More men commit suicide than women.
- In addition, each year around 2,500 people deliberately hurt themselves to the extent that they require hospital treatment for more than three days.
- Mental illness can be a major risk factor for suicide.
- People (families and friends) bereaved by suicide are themselves at greater risk of suicide or self-harm.
