On average, 9 people a week commit suicide in New Zealand, every week. That is huge.
It is vital for countries to share information on suicide prevention, World Health Organisation specialist Lilian Zollner says.
Suicide remained one of the main causes of death in Europe, especially among young and middle-aged people, Dr Zollner said today.
New Zealand figures indicate nine suicides per week.
Dr Zollner, a member of the European Suicide Prevention Network, is in New Zealand to speak about youth suicide prevention in Denmark and Europe.
Her speech would canvas how to reach young people before they harmed themselves, why they often did not use help offered and which factors protected them most against self-harm and suicide.
"Any lessons that can be learned and shared between organisations, countries, and regions are important, vital even, in working to reduce rates of suicide in our respective countries as well as collectively."
Skylight's chief executive and mental health commissioner Bice Awan said international research and proven strategies about suicide prevention could help inform programmes and policies in New Zealand.
"In New Zealand deaths by suicide each year outnumber the road toll.
"Latest statistics indicate around nine suicides each week. Two of those will be under 25 years old.
"The impact has a huge ripple effect on family, friends, schools and communities," Mrs Awan said.
Dr Zollner had been using Skylight programmes through the Danish Centre for Suicide Research for the past four years, Mrs Awan said.
An important aspect of Dr Zollner's work was how to keep the politicians and policy makers up to date with latest accounts of factors affecting the youth - such as eating disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, influence of cellphones - so that prevention strategies could be implemented as early as possible.
Skylight is a national charitable organisation that provides support services to children, young people and their families through times of change, loss, trauma and grief.
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