Twice as many people commit suicide as die in road accidents and the same emphasis should be put on reducing the toll, a Government minister says.
Monday is World Suicide Prevention Day and Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says it's a reminder of the challenges that have to be faced.
An increase in suicides among teenagers, particularly Maori, and a rare self-inflicted death of a child under 10 were among grim details released last week about suicides in the past year.
Eighty teenagers between 15 and 19 took their own lives, up from 56 the year before, according to statistics released by Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean.
Mr Dunne says the Government and communities must work "tirelessly" to help prevent suicides.
"Twice as many people die by suicide each year as die on the roads, and society needs to be placing the same emphasis on reducing the suicide rate as we have on reducing the road toll," Mr Dunne said.
"We have good work going on already and we need to keep the focus on it."
Programmes he listed include:
* Ministry of Health funding of the Kia Piki te Ora National Suicide Prevention programme
* initiatives announced in April as part of the Government's Youth Mental Health project
* Whanau Ora providers to start working soon with Maori and Pacific families to protect and improve the mental health of young people.
NZN