★ Severity and Impact of Mental Health – See the video

The severity and impact of mental health illnesses such as depression, bipolar and anxiety disorders are similar across international boundaries.

In the case of depression, according to the World Health Organisation ( W.H.O. ) as of the year 2017, depression is the leading health concern worldwide. Almost 1 million ( 1,000,000 ) people die due to suicide every year and there are much more who attempt suicide who survive. It is estimated that 300 million ( 300,000,000 ) people are affected or experience suicide bereavement every year. Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan and was the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds globally in 2012.

Sixty-five percent ( 65% ) of people with mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, do not access any treatment.

SUICIDE RATES

Each and every day, life is lost to suicide:

• 97 Koreans a day, 35,150 Yr.
• 70 Japanese a day, 25,550 Yr.
• 105 Americans a day, 38,600 Yr.
• 7 Australians a day, 3,200 Yr.
• 10 Canadians a day, 3,500 Yr.
• 2 New Zealanders a day, 510 Yr.

Global Statistics ( as of 2017 )

In New Zealand, approximately 550 people die by suicide each year. Almost 75% of these suicides were male. The highest rate of suicide was in our youth, age 15-24 years.  The Maori youth suicide rate is approximately 2.8 times the non-Maori youth rate. The rural suicide of New Zealand farmers and/or their family members is on the increase.

In Australia, from 2009 to 2013, the average number of suicide deaths was 2,461 persons per year. In 2013, 1,885 males and 637 females died by suicide, a total of 2,522 deaths. This equates to approximately 7-dealths each and every year. Over one in four young Australians ( 26% ) experience a mental illness every year; suicide being the leading cause of death for young people aged 15 – 24.

Men are at the greatest risk of suicide, but least likely to seek help. In 2010, men accounted for over three-quarters ( 76% ) of deaths from suicide. Other groups, including Indigenous Australians, people in rural and remote areas, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and children are also at the greatest risk.

Attempted suicide is also an issue of concern with estimates that over sixty-thousand ( 60,000 ) people a year attempt to take their own lives, the majority being women.

Globally, almost one-million ( 1,000,000 ) die to suicide every year and there are much more who attempt suicide. Hence, many millions of people are affected or experience suicide bereavement every year, estimated at more than three-hundred-million people ( 300,000,000 ).

Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan and in 2012 was the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds globally. Since then, suicide has become even worse. The World Health Organisation places depression ( with its associated suicide ) as the number one health concern faced globally today.

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