A suicide prevention group says the rising teenage death rate shows new strategies are needed to address the problem.
Figures issued on Monday show 547 people committed suicide over the past year, 11 fewer than the previous year. But the figure rose from 56 to 80 in the 15-to-19-year-old age group.
Community Action on Suicide Prevention, Education & Research says the current system is failing and a change of approach is needed, rather than just investing millions of dollars in mental health services.
Chief executive Maria Bradshaw says unemployment, bullying, binge-drinking and cannabis use by young people needs to be better addressed to prevent more deaths occurring.
