Story: Mental health services

Motives for male suicides, 1900–1950

This chart uses information from coroners' inquests between 1900 and 1950 to determine motives for suicides by males. It shows that mental illness was a reason behind almost one in five suicides in that period.

Using this item

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: John Weaver, A sadly troubled history: the meanings of suicide in the modern age. Montreal & Kingston: McGill-Queens University Press, 2009. p. 155

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Warwick Brunton, 'Mental health services - Mental health and mental illness', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/graph/29396/motives-for-male-suicides-1900-1950 (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Warwick Brunton, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 5 May 2022