Dear Mr Gray

On behalf of Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman, Minister of Health, thank you for your email received 28 August 2017 requesting under the Official Information Act 1982:

Can you please inform me what percentage of these suicide victims were on or had recently been on a medication.

The information requested appears to be more closely associated with the functions and responsibilities of the Ministry of Health. Accordingly, I am transferring your request to the Director-General of Health and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health, Chai Chuah, under section 14 (b) (ii) of the Official Information Act 1982.

Melissa Buckle
Private Secretary – Health
Office of the Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman
Minister of Health, Minister for Sport and Recreation

-----Original Message-----
From: Nigel Gray [mailto:[FOI #6486 email]]
Sent: Monday, 28 August 2017 6:18 p.m.
To: J Coleman (MIN)
Subject: Official Information request - Percentage of suicides that were on medications or recently on medications.

Dear Minister of Health,
It has come to my attention that thew suicide rate in New Zealand is higher yet again over the last year. Can you please inform me what percentage of these suicide victims were on or had recently been on a medication. Many medications have listed as a possible side effect or adverse effect "suicidal thoughts or actions" so it seems a reasonable place to start looking as to the cause of this recent "spike" if you will forgive the use of this word.

Yours faithfully,

Nigel Gray

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Dear Nigel Gray

Your request to the Minister of Health for official information has been
transferred to the Ministry of Health. The request was received by the
Ministry on 29 August 2017. The Ministry's reference number for your
request is: H20170 3549

You requested:

Can you please inform me what percentage of these suicide victims [over
the last year] were on or had recently been on a medication.

Your request has been logged and you can expect a reply no later than 26
September 2017 as required under the Official Information Act 1982.

Please note that a working day is defined in the Act as ‘any day of the
week other than a Saturday, Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day,
Labour Day, the Sovereigns birthday, Waitangi Day and a day in the period
commencing 25 December in any year and ending 15 January in the following
year.

If a large amount of information has been requested or if the Ministry
needs to consult in order to make a decision, we may need to extend this
date (this is provided for in section 15A of the Act).  We will advise you
if such an extension is necessary.

Yours sincerely,

Greg Smith

[email address]
Government Relations l Ministerial, Executive and Government Services l
Office of the Director General

[1]http://www.health.govt.nz

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Good morning,

Please find attached the response to your request for official
information.
Kind regards,
Lisa Petraschuk
Team Administrator
Mental Health
System Outcomes
Service Commissioning
Ministry of Health
DDI: 04 816 3377

[1]http://www.moh.govt.nz
[2]mailto:[email address]

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Statement of confidentiality: This e-mail message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege.
If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use, disseminate,
distribute or copy this message or attachments.
If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
immediately and delete this message.
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References

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