Story: Suicide
Page 1 – Costs of suicide
Numbers
In the 2000s about 500 New Zealanders died each year by suicide (self-killing) – more than in motor accidents. For those under 25 it represented almost a quarter of all deaths. New Zealand’s rate of suicide was about average internationally, although moderately high compared to similar developed countries. However, it was very high for those under 30.
Social costs
Suicide is a major social issue in New Zealand, with a large economic, social and personal cost.
What is suicide?
To the layperson, suicide is simply when someone kills themselves. But a more accurate definition is more complicated. One writer on the subject defines it as, ‘An act with a fatal outcome, that is deliberately initiated and performed by the deceased him- or herself, in the knowledge or expectation of its fatal outcome, the outcome being considered by the actor as instrumental in bringing about desired changes in consciousness and/or social conditions.’1
Besides the 500 people who kill themselves each year, there are also about 2,500 admissions to hospitals for intentional self-harm, and many more people who seriously consider suicide. More than one in seven people will consider killing themselves at some time in their lives, and over one in 22 attempt it.
For all those who either kill themselves or attempt it, there are many more who are hugely affected – parents, partners, children, siblings, friends and workmates. They have to carry the emotional pains of guilt, sadness, longing and lost opportunities.
Economic costs
In monetary terms, one study has suggested that the annual cost of suicides and attempted suicides was over $23 million (in 2004 values) including police, coroners, victim support and health care. If the loss of people’s productive lives was considered, the total was over $200 million; and if non-economic costs such as quality of life were included the total was $1.4 billion.
