Psychiatrists have welcomed the Government's commitment to a comprehensive Suicide Prevention Action Plan but warn that without addressing critical gaps in access to mental health support for priority groups and workforce shortages, the plan's impact will be limited. 

Dr Hiran Thabrew, Chair of Tu Te Akaaka Roa – the New Zealand National Office of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), said the Government's commitment to clear goals and coordinated action is encouraging.  

“We welcome the plan's wide consultation, focus on both prevention and postvention, and inclusion of public health approaches including wellbeing messaging" Dr Thabrew said. 

However, the College raised significant concerns about gaps that could undermine the plan's effectiveness, particularly the limited success of suicide prevention measures to date and the increase in youth suicide rates since the disestablishment of the suicide prevention office at the Ministry. 

"This plan must learn from what hasn't worked. We're also deeply concerned about the unmet needs of people experiencing mental health problems, who have the greatest risk of dying by suicide. They continue to face barriers accessing timely specialist care due to service pressures and workforce shortages," Dr Thabrew said. 

"As outlined in the College's Position Statement on Suicide Prevention, mental illness and substance use disorders are significant and independent risk factors for suicide, yet the majority of people who die by suicide have not accessed mental health services in the 12 months before their death. People who have previously sought mental health treatment face 18.7 times higher suicide risk than non-service users - this shows our system is failing those who need it most." 

Tu Te Akaaka Roa highlighted critical workforce shortages, with psychiatrist vacancy rates reaching 30% in some regions, yet no clear long-term workforce plan to address this crisis. 

The statistics also reveal persistent cultural inequalities: tangata whenua experience 1.8 times the suicide rate of non-Māori, young people in state care are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide, and rural communities face significantly higher rates than urban areas. 

In its submission to the plan, the College called for addressing social determinants, upholding equity, and ensuring culturally safe services to be central to implementation of the plan. 

"We can't fix New Zealand's suicide crisis without tackling what's driving people to despair - poverty, homelessness, family violence, alcohol harm and untreated mental illness. Māori and Pasifika communities, rangatahi Māori, new mothers, and those battling socio-economic inequality are far more likely to experience these challenges, making it harder for them to seek help. 

"Social determinants of suicide require coordinated action across all of government to protect existing safeguards like the Pae Ora Act that are designed to reduce these inequities." 

Whilst welcoming peer support initiatives, the College emphasised these must be strategically placed for maximum effect and ensure peer supporters themselves receive adequate support and supervision. 

"The College will continue working closely with our mental health colleagues, the lived experience community, and the Ministry to address what is indeed a stubborn, yet not insurmountable, challenge for Aotearoa. Mental health care must remain accessible to all New Zealanders, especially our most vulnerable populations," Dr Thabrew said.
 

For media inquiries, please contact: Dishi Gahlowt on +61 437 315 911 or email media@ranzcp.org  

For all other expert mental health information visit Your Health in Mind, the RANZCP’s consumer health information website. 

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is a membership organisation that prepares medical specialists in the field of psychiatry, supports and enhances clinical practice, advocates for people affected by mental illness and advises governments and other groups on mental health care. For information about our work, our members or our history, visit www.ranzcp.org. 

In Australia: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au or the Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au. 

In New Zealand: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline NZ on 0800 543 354 or www.lifeline.org.nz or the Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0508 828 865 or www.lifeline.org.nz/suicide-prevention.