Total DHB Completed Suicides Per Annum
(2007-2015)
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The highest number of suicides fall within the 25-44 year age band, 46 (39% of
the total) followed by those in the 45-65 year age band 39 (31% of the total).
Within these two age groups female suicides are slightly higher at 13% of the
total.
In comparing percentage of population by Territorial Local Authority (TLA), New
Plymouth District is 68% of the total Taranaki population (2013 Census),
Stratford 8% and South Taranaki 24%. The numbers of suicides by TLA are New
Plymouth District 90, (71% of the total), Stratford District 9 (7% of the total)
and South Taranaki District 28 (22% of the total). This shows the New Plymouth
District (which is predominantly urban) is 3% higher as a proportion of the total
suicides than the percentage of the overall population. This figure is in contrast
to the national picture where completed suicides were greater per 100,000
population in rural areas.
0
5
10
15
20
25
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
Taranaki DHB Completed Suicides 2007-2015
by Gender
Male
Female
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Age Range of Completed Suicides - Taranaki 2007-
2015
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Geographic Spread of Suicides in Taranaki in 2007-2014.
New Zealand Māori represented 19% of the suicides in Taranaki for the eight
year period.
0
5
10
15
20
25
Taranaki DHB Completed Suicides 2007-2015
by Maori/Non-Maori
Non-Maori
Maori
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Suicide Attempts
Suicide Attempts
Suicide Attempts
Suicide Attempts
Taranaki Police
iii
record the number of suicide attempts that Officers are called
out to. When reading this section it is noted there are some limitations with
how Police data is coded therefore there is a level of inaccuracy. The data also
does not provide an indication of the severity of the attempt.
Between January 2014 and April 2015, Police attended 518 suicide attempts
across the region between Mokau in the north and Patea in the south. Two
hundred and fifty six of attempted suicides were recorded as female, 245 were
recorded as male (there was no gender information for 17 of the call outs). This
is a similar percentage for both genders.
The Police call out data is recorded against the attending Police station. The
Taranaki Police area does not extend as far south as Waverley which forms part
of the District Health Board and District Council boundary, so the numbers for
South Taranaki may be marginally higher than shown below. The chart below
does reveal a larger number of call outs per head of population in the Stratford
District (Stratford represents 12% of the regional population, Census 2013), and
a marginally higher number in the New Plymouth area (which represents 67%
of the regional population, Census 2013.
Self
Self
Self
Self----harm
harm
harm
harm
In New Zealand in 2012 there were 3031 intentional self-harm hospitalisations.
Two thirds of these were female, one third of which were from youth aged 15-
24 years, and one fifth were by Māori. At a national level in 2012, there were
71 intentional self-harm hospitalisations per 100,000 population. In Taranaki
we have the eighth lowest rate out of the 20 DHBs in this age group.
In Taranaki between 2010 and 2012 there were 78.3 intentional self-harm
hospitalisations per 100,000 population, which is higher than the national rate
of 71.0. When disaggregated by gender there were 99.7 occurrences per
100,000 of the female population.
Between 2012 and 2015, Taranaki admitted 370 people for a total of 809 self-
harm incidents. Two thirds of the total self-harm acts in this period occurred
amongst females.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Taranaki Police Call-outs to a Suicide Attempt
(2014-15)
2014
2015
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There was also a particularly high prevalence of repeated self-harming, with
many people being admitted for three or more episodes in one year. The
largest admission for repeated self-harming in one year was 18 times.
The most common type of self-harm amongst females and males was
intentional self-poisoning.
Of the 370 people who were admitted for self-harming, the youngest age was
11 years, and the oldest 85 years. The split according to age is shown below.
Māori were statistically over represented according to their overall population
numbers in the region.
The data only tells a partial picture, as there will also be data and information
held at a General Practitioner level and with schools. Within Taranaki there is a
strong reason to believe that the rates of self-harming are high in particular
with our young people.
Future
Future
Future
Future D
D
D
Data
ata
ata
ata N
N
N
Needs
eeds
eeds
eeds
The Advisory Group recognised the limitations with the current data, and has
prioritised the need to improve surveillance systems and methods of data
recording and sharing as part of their suicide prevention and postvention
responses.
Count of Repeat Admissions by Female
Count of Repeat Admissions by Male
No. of people # Admissions
% of Total
No. Of people # Admissions
% of Total
96
1
40%
71
1
54%
77
2
32%
37
2
28%
28
3
12%
11
3
8%
19
4
8%
5
4
4%
4
5
2%
0
5
0%
6
6
3%
3
6
2%
2
7
1%
2
7
2%
3
8
1%
0
8
0%
0
9
0%
1
9
1%
3
10 to 18
1%
1
10 to 18
1%
238
132
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Stakeholder Engagement Proce
Stakeholder Engagement Proce
Stakeholder Engagement Proce
Stakeholder Engagement Process
ss
ss
ss
Engagement Process
Engagement Process
Engagement Process
Engagement Process
During June 2015, the Taranaki District Health Board facilitated a plan
development process. Engagements took place in three main ways:
•
Stakeholder stocktake research.
•
Multi-agency engagement via four Advisory Group meetings.
•
One-on-one / small group conversations.
The stocktake survey was sent to Taranaki agencies, organisations and iwi
working within, or with an interest in the area of suicide prevention and
postvention. This included stakeholders who deliver education, health and social
services to individuals and communities. Kaupapa Māori health providers and
support groups were actively engaged. Ten agencies provided information to
support the population of the current service status. The stocktake survey also
sought information about the actions and priorities that have informed the
development of the Action Plan.
Four dedicated meetings were undertaken to support the development of the
Plan identifying the key themes, priorities and action planning and the approach
towards information. The meetings involved a wider group of representatives
including the Taranaki District Health Board, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social
Development, Child Youth and Families, Ministry of Education, New Zealand
Police, Māori Health Providers, Suicide Prevention Taranaki, Corrections, New
Plymouth Injury Safe, counsellors, Tui Ora and Ngati Ruanui Health.
In addition, a number of one-on-one engagements and smaller group
conversations were undertaken to help gain an understanding of what work was
currently occurring in suicide prevention and postvention. Insights were
gathered from specialist and targeted providers working with youth, Māori, rural
and men.
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Current Status
Current Status
Current Status
Current Status
As part of the process to develop the Taranaki Suicide Prevention and
Postvention Plan, agencies and organisations were invited to provide information
about their current suicide prevention and postvention activities. There was
limited data received, indicating limited activity in this area. Responses were
received from 11 individual organisations. A summary of the stated activities is
detailed below. While the services provided do cover both some agency activity,
NGO’s and community interest groups, there is more work that will be done as
part of implementation to understand how the services/programmes that are
being delivered are resulting in positive outcomes to our communities.
Taranaki has a significant strength in supporting rural populations, in particular
rural farming communities. The proactivity of community interest groups over
recent years has resulted in a decline in suicides of Farmers.
Objective 1: Strengthen the infrastructure
Objective 1: Strengthen the infrastructure
Objective 1: Strengthen the infrastructure
Objective 1: Strengthen the infrastructure
for suicide prevention.
for suicide prevention.
for suicide prevention.
for suicide prevention.
a)
Supporting access to subsidised or free training in suicide intervention for
families.
b)
Raising the profile of suicide as an issue in Taranaki.
c)
Liaison and networking between service providers, understanding the gaps
in service provision.
d)
Reducing stigma and discrimination about mental illness and suicide.
e)
Promoting training to up-skill the community (making sure people know
what to say and do if they are around a suicidal person).
f)
Helping the community to understand how to access and navigate their way
through to the right services for them.
g)
Website giving information about how to prevent suicide and guidance
about services that are available. Provisions of a suicide prevention
handbook.
Objective
Objective
Objective
Objective 2
2
2
2: Supporting families, wh
: Supporting families, wh
: Supporting families, wh
: Supporting families, whānau,
nau,
nau,
nau,
hap
hap
hap
hap ū, iwi, and communities to prevent
, iwi, and communities to prevent
, iwi, and communities to prevent
, iwi, and communities to prevent
suicide.
suicide.
suicide.
suicide.
a)
Monthly Peer Support Group facilitated by a combination of counsellor,
social worker and bereaved family member with facilitation training.
Monthly Peer Support Group has speakers from Police, Lifeline, and
Psychologist etc.
b)
Supporting access subsidised or free training in suicide intervention for
families.
c)
Weekly visitation service for older people who are experiencing loneliness or
isolation.
d)
Fortnightly shopping service for older people to support the person to
remain physically, emotionally and mentally engaged in their community.
e)
Field Officers provide programmes and outings to aid social inclusion and
minimise loneliness.
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f)
Providing relevant targeted expert support to farmers and rural
communities.
g)
Early intervention programme where coordinating meetings will support
whānau/family through their mental health journey.
h)
Crisis intervention for adults with mental health problems.
i)
Counselling, education and information to persons at risk of suicide.
j)
Website offering information and guidance about how to prevent suicide.
Objective 3
Objective 3
Objective 3
Objective 3: Supporting families, wh
: Supporting families, wh
: Supporting families, wh
: Supporting families, whānau,
nau,
nau,
nau,
hap
hap
hap
hap ū, iwi, communities after a suicide
, iwi, communities after a suicide
, iwi, communities after a suicide
, iwi, communities after a suicide
.
a)
Monthly Peer Support Group facilitated by a combination of counsellor,
social worker and bereaved family member with facilitation training.
Monthly Peer Support Group has speakers from Police, Lifeline, and
Psychologist etc.
Objective 4
Objective 4
Objective 4
Objective 4: Improve services and support
: Improve services and support
: Improve services and support
: Improve services and support
for people at high risk of suicide who are
for people at high risk of suicide who are
for people at high risk of suicide who are
for people at high risk of suicide who are
receiving government services.
receiving government services.
receiving government services.
receiving government services.
a)
Supporting access subsidised or free training in suicide intervention for
families using services.
b)
Supporting people with mental health or are affected by a person close to
them experiencing mental health problems.
c)
Weekly visitation service for older people who are experiencing loneliness or
isolation.
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Governance and Leadership
Governance and Leadership
Governance and Leadership
Governance and Leadership
Integrating Clinical Leadership with
Integrating Clinical Leadership with
Integrating Clinical Leadership with
Integrating Clinical Leadership with
Communities as Partners
Communities as Partners
Communities as Partners
Communities as Partners
Response to Suicide Prevention and Postvention is a whole of Taranaki
response. Proposed partners to the Action Plan include, but are not limited
to:
•
Community
•
Iwi
•
Taranaki District Health Board
•
Midlands Health Network
•
Victim Support
•
Rural Support Trust
•
New Plymouth Injury Safe
•
Suicide Prevention Taranaki
•
Ministry of Social Development / Work and Income
•
Ministry of Justice
•
Ministry of Education
•
Schools
•
Tui Ora
•
Ruanui Health
•
Community Health and Social Services
•
Territorial Local Authorities
What
What
What
What N
N
N
Needs to
eeds to
eeds to
eeds to H
H
H
Happen?
appen?
appen?
appen?
The Suicide Prevention and Postvention Advisory Group has identified the
need to develop an overarching governance structure to support Taranaki’s
approach to suicide prevention and postvention.
The Advisory Group explored a number of models that could work, and in the
short term has resolved to continue with the current membership of the
Suicide Prevention and Postvention Advisory Group during the early stages of
Plan implementation.
There is a need for multi-agency, whānau and community centred
governance/representative structure that can serve a number of functions.
-
Clinical leadership
-
Networking, peer support and information sharing
-
Advocacy and education
-
Plan implementation and monitoring
-
Agency coordination and cooperation
The Advisory Group are continuing to explore whether there is a need for an
independent governance structure i.e. a trust model, or whether the current
collaboration is the most effective and efficient means of developing and
implementing the plan. The interim structure is set out below.
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Proposed
Proposed
Proposed
Proposed Interim Governance Structure
Interim Governance Structure
Interim Governance Structure
Interim Governance Structure
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Forward Plan
Forward Plan
Forward Plan
Forward Plan
Overarching Priorities
Overarching Priorities
Overarching Priorities
Overarching Priorities
The Suicide Prevention and Postvention Advisory Group have endeavoured to
create an Action Plan that is future focused and innovative. In doing so, it has
identified that a number of infrastructure changes and improvements need to
take place that can facilitate improved interagency connection, support
enhanced service delivery and build a workforce that is knowledgeable and
responsive to the risks of suicidal and self-harm action.
The Action Plan provides a response and a commitment to support communities
and individuals to be able to build their resilience and wellness. However, the
region recognises that there is a strong need to provide support structures for
those whose lives are touched by self-harm, a suicide attempt or a completed
suicide.
Taranaki has identified that targeted and appropriate responses are needed for
at risk groups and vulnerable populations. A ‘one approach fits all’ will not work,
and there is a need for agencies to draw upon their strengths with particular
population groups, and for broader services and support systems to provide
individualised response programmes. The overarching priorities span each of the
outcome/objective areas:
•
The Taranaki community is a kaitiaki for suicide prevention and
postvention support.
•
Community wellbeing is promoted and supported.
•
Leadership and commitment exists across Taranaki to prevent suicide
attempts and support those after a suicide or suicide attempt.
•
Families/whānau and communities have access to appropriate
services and supports.
•
Support for high risk groups and populations are culturally and socially
appropriate, coordinated and available.
•
Workforce development and education is actively promoted and
delivered.
•
Referral pathways are clear and service responses are efficient and
effective.
•
Mental illness and Suicide postvention is de-stigmatised, and suicide
prevention is encouraged.
•
Resources are coordinated to ensure effectiveness of outcomes.
Priority Populations
Priority Populations
Priority Populations
Priority Populations
The suicide (completed and attempted) and self-harm statistics provide a picture
of those groups and life stages which may increase a vulnerability to suicide, but
the quantitative data collected by agencies only reveals some of the story. There
are other intentional acts that may in fact have been a suicide, but it is difficult to
know for sure, as the data does not tell the story. In order to develop a
community response to suicide attempts and acts, the community needs to know
the stories to understand the problem and get to the right solution. Within
Taranaki, the Advisory Group who developed this Plan have drawn upon both the
agency data and their expert knowledge to identify community groups in
Taranaki, who are vulnerable, and who will be prioritised in the Plan.
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