Suicide seems to be the leading cause of violent and unnatural death in New Zealand, outpacing automobile crashes. And who knows, some of those crashes may have been by suicidal drivers?
The tragedy of suicide being the leading cause of violent death is indicative of wider issues - that people are feeling more alone, unloved and isolated than ever before. The family as the basic unit is typically smaller and smaller, too often down to one parent, few siblings and relations living further apart.
Make an effort this week and every week to reach out to the people you care about, and tell them. Does some-one you know need some attention? If you can't get to them, then try praying for them. What do you have to lose?
Related Link: Suicide Tops the Figures
Related Link: NZ suicide Trends
The tragedy of suicide being the leading cause of violent death is indicative of wider issues - that people are feeling more alone, unloved and isolated than ever before. The family as the basic unit is typically smaller and smaller, too often down to one parent, few siblings and relations living further apart.
Make an effort this week and every week to reach out to the people you care about, and tell them. Does some-one you know need some attention? If you can't get to them, then try praying for them. What do you have to lose?
More people took their own lives than died in road crashes in the past year, new coroners' figures show. In the year to the end of June, 511 suicides were reported to coroners - 1.4 self-inflicted deaths a day.
KIWI WAY OF DEATH
The number of violent and unnatural deaths referred to coroners in the year to June 30:
Suicide 511
Vehicle accident 424
Drowning 101
Head injury 66
Homicide 64
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome 50
Related Link: Suicide Tops the Figures
Related Link: NZ suicide Trends