Suicides by method, age, and district

Last updated 05:00 12/08/2010

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The following table has been released by the Coroner. It describes the numbers of suicides over the past three years, and shows the methods by which people commit suicide. There is also a breakdown by gender, age, and district.

Suicide methods
Method	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10
Hanging, strangulation and suffocation	286	268	306
Poisoning (overdose and others)	72	82	66
Poisoning by gases and vapours	83	56	56
Firearms and explosives	45	50	50
Jumping from a high place	11	17	19
Plastic bag	10	9	15
Cutting and piercing	10	15	9
Drowning	11	9	10
Fire	4	10	3
Intentional car crash	3	5	1
Intentionally hit by train	3	5	1
Intentionally hit by vehicle	3	2	2
Other			1
Total	541	531	541

Suicides by age and gender
	2007-08				2008-09			2009-10
Age	Female	Male	Unknown	Total	Female	Male	Total	Female	Male	Total
10-14	2	3		5	6	5	11	3	4	7
15-19	15	36		51	25	35	60	15	38	53
20-24	11	56		67	9	48	57	16	49	65
25-29	8	39		47	15	28	43	13	33	46
30-34	11	40		51	6	41	47	12	35	47
35-39	19	42	1	62	14	32	46	14	46	60
40-44	19	39		58	14	32	46	13	40	53
45-49	13	35		48	11	40	51	15	46	61
50-54	5	32		37	10	34	44	6	39	45
55-59	12	28		40	10	42	52	10	14	24
60-64	4	15		19	7	19	26	8	18	26
65-69	3	13		16	3	9	12	4	10	14
70-74	5	5		10	1	7	8	1	11	12
75-79	1	11		12		4	4	3	6	9
80-84	4	7		11	4	12	16	4	5	9
85+	2	5		7	2	6	8	3	7	10
Total	134	406	1	541	137	394	531	140	401	541

Suicides by district
Coroner’s Court	2007-08	2008-09	2009-10
Auckland	155	146	139
Christchurch	92	70	80
Dunedin	37	50	60
Hamilton	48	68	55
Hastings	35	32	32
Palmerston North	53	53	54
Rotorua	35	53	44
Wellington	64	40	57
Whanagrei	22	19	20
Total	541	531	541