Warning: This story contains discussion of suicide.
Mental health campaigners say there's still much more work to be done, after the number of suspected suicides dropped for a second consecutive year.
As co-founder of Voices of Hope, Genevieve Mora is an experienced mental health advocate. But when she recently lost a friend to suicide, she struggled with guilt.
"There's the confusion, there's the anger, there's the frustration, there's the sadness, there's the brokenness. There's a lot of 'what-ifs' and 'could I have done more?'" she told Newshub.
"I know something I really struggled with was the guilt, feeling I should've been more available or be more supportive, or what more could I have done?"
Her friend is one of the 607 New Zealanders who died by suicide in the year to June 30.
"I think it really took me by surprise, the grief and the level of grief from losing my friend, but I think it was really important that I talked to someone," she says.
Behind every one of those numbers is a person, and the Mental Health Foundation estimates for every person who takes their own life, it directly affects at least thirty people.
"For every one of those 607 deaths there are family, whanau, workmates, friends," says CEO Shaun Robinson.
The Chief Coroner has revealed New Zealand's suspected suicide rate has dropped from 11.8 deaths per 100,000 people to 11.6.
There's also been a decrease in Maori (15.8 down from 19.8), and females and males in the 15 - 24 age range (11.4 down from 12.6, and 22.2 down from 22.7 respectively).
But there's been an increase among Pacific populations (9.6 up from 7.2).
"There's a very small reduction in the number of deaths, not enough for us to say we're making headway, but any reduction is good news. I think what it tells us is we have a very long way to go," says Robinson.
He says the decrease should quell rumours that lockdowns have caused spikes in the suicide rate.
"That sense of belonging, that sense of close connection to people, the fact people can actually monitor someone who's struggling, these are all safety factors. It makes me very angry that people try and rack up hysteria around suicide and use the issue to push their anti-lockdown agendas," he says.
It's the second consecutive year the numbers have decreased, but the Suicide Prevention Office says it wants to see a decline over at least a five-year period before a meaningful downward trend in the numbers and rates can be established.
For those who've lost loved ones to suicide, the annual release of figures is always difficult, regardless of whether it's decreased or not.
"Every time there's new results that come out, anyone who's experienced this kind of loss feels so much hurt for those families who are just beginning their journey," says Grace Curtis, who lost her father John last year.
The government's only recently made what's called 'postvention' - support services specifically for those who've lost loved ones to suicide - part of its strategy to tackle the issue.
"Traumatic grief carries unique, challenging emotions associated with it. That can be shock, isolation, anger, obviously intense grief and loss," explains Aoake te Rā project lead Kirsty Louden.
The new bereavement service is part of non-governmental organisation Clinical Advisory Service Aotearoa, but is funded by the Ministry of Health. It's still rolling out, but has already helped over 360 individuals and whanau.
"Given the vulnerability of people accessing this service we want to ensure they have a provider who reflects their worldview, and who they know understands where they are coming from," says Louden.
That means many of those involved have been bereaved by suicide themselves.
"The voices of those who have lost loved ones resonate throughout both the delivery and the design of the project," Louden says.
For Genevieve Mora, accessing that tailored support was crucial.
"I'm a believer in lived experience, storytelling, and sharing. I think when you hear from someone who's used a service or been through it, it allows you to feel more safe and comfortable in accessing the service yourself."
At first, Mora says she didn't feel like she deserved the support, as there were others closer to her friend.
"Actually stepping back and going 'no I actually deserve this and I need this' was really important in my own journey of processing the loss," she explains.
Key to the process was being able to ask specific questions around her frustration, anger, and sadness.
"You never wish this upon anyone but there was this level of understanding and support and awareness I think you wouldn't get from someone who hasn't experienced it," she adds.
Experience is something Grace Curtis has used to help others, in the year-and-a-half since her father's death.
"I thought by sharing my journey from the beginning, and being the most transparent I could, that would be the most help to people," she says.
Along with Georgia Harris and Tori Wheelans, two women who'd also lost their fathers, Curtis set up Cool Change: a mental health movement named after the song played at her father's funeral.
The social media community encourages those bereaved by suicide to share their stories, and break the silence.
"If you have to go and coach a rugby team you don't ask soccer players how to do it. You turn to the families who are going to be relying on these services, and find solutions in that," Curtis explains.
Curtis has a message for those like Mora, who will see their friends and whanau in the Coroner's latest statistics.
"Unfortunately you are part of a club and there are a lot of members of this club. We will stick together and get through these experiences together. There's people who've lost members to suicide years and years ago, who have gotten to where they are, and we'll get there as well."
Because while bereavement never leaves you, having someone walk with you through it is one way we can get those numbers closer to zero.
Where to find help and support:
- Shine (domestic violence) - 0508 744 633
- Women's Refuge - 0800 733 843 (0800 REFUGE)
- Need to Talk? - Call or text 1737
- What's Up - 0800 WHATS UP (0800 942 8787)
- Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
- Youthline - 0800 376 633, text 234, email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
- Samaritans - 0800 726 666
- Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
- Suicide Crisis Helpline - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- Shakti Community Council - 0800 742 584
