Traditionally in Māori culture, suicide was associated with bereavement or shame; sometimes women would commit suicide after their husband died.
Until the 1970s the rate of suicide among Māori was relatively low. After this rates have continued to increase.
Until the 1980s there were higher rates of suicide among elders but after this time this trend began to reverse.
Now, the highest rates of suicide are among the 20-29 age group and rates in older age groups have decreased.
In 2008 the overall rate for Māori was 13.3 suicides per 100,000, compared with 10.6 for non-Māori.
About a quarter of Maori suicides occur in prison.
Information in this post is taken from Te Ara Enclopaedia.
Next post: Working to prevent suicide
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