Suicides in Northland are down 25 per cent to 21 deaths this year, but a Kaitaia student says prevention needs the same level of resources as road safety. Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall yesterdayreleased the annual provisional suicide statistics from June 2015 to June 2016. There were 21 suicides in Northland compared with 28 the previous year.
Kaitaia College student and suicide awareness campaigner Nina Griffiths said it was 21 "too many".
"That's a huge amount. The target is zero ... That's like having a whole classroom wiped out. I know two people [who have committed suicide] and that has had a significant impact on me. There will be someone who knows everyone," she said.
National figures showed 579 people died by suicide in the 2015/16 year - the highest number since provisional statistics were first recorded for the 2007/08 year. This compared with the 319 people who died on roads last year.
Ms Griffiths said she'd like to see the same level of resources invested in road safety, targeted at suicide prevention.