The Government yesterday rejected the inquiry's call to set a target of a 20% reduction in suicides.
The Government announced it would accept the vast majority of the recommendations of the inquiry it commissioned within weeks of taking office, but baulked at setting a suicide reduction target.
''Targets can produce unintended outcomes, for example an assumption that the remaining number of deaths by suicide are 'acceptable', a focus on meeting the target rather than implementing sustainable change, increased inequity, and deliberate inaccurate reporting of deaths by suicide,'' Health Minister David Clark said.
''We're not prepared to sign up to a suicide target because every life matters, and one death by suicide is one death too many.''
The decision disappointed Life Matters suicide prevention trust founder Corinda Taylor, of Dunedin.
''Twenty percent is better than nothing.
''Now we won't even have a target and they're not going to measure it ... Not committing to a target signals to me that not every life does matter.''
Mrs Taylor agreed with the Government that a zero suicide target was the ultimate end, but said a reduction target was an important initial step.
''We need to start somewhere and then build up to a system so robust and so good that nobody falls through the gaps.
''I know it is an aspirational goal, but it is better than saying we are not going to have any target.''
Annually, an estimated 150,000 New Zealanders think about taking their own life, 50,000 make a suicide plan and 20,000 make a suicide attempt.
In 2015, 525 people died by suicide.
The inquiry report said views were mixed about establishing a suicide reduction target, but there was overseas evidence that it could play an important part in reducing suicide rates.
The Government did commit to finishing a draft suicide prevention strategy and plan later this year, and also to setting up a suicide prevention office.
Southern District Health Board mental health director Evan Mason said he endorsed the idea of a suicide prevention office.
''I think that's a major gain for the sector.
''Overall there are lots of positive ideas.
''The goal now needs to be in terms of things we can measure and things we can actually implement, rather than another set of nebulous ideas that don't really set down concretely what we need to be working on.''
Experienced southern mental health professional Kerry Hand said much would depend on the funding decisions announced in today's Budget.
''I don't see we need extra money in mental health services but we do need a radical reallocation of the large resources we have already.
''It would be great if the attention was on what the new activities actually were. Some budget lump sum is less relevant.''
The Government has endorsed establishing a new mental health and wellbeing commission, and Mr Hand hoped it would have a proactive mandate.
''The DHBs have kept the funding close to their own services rather than adapting to what the local communities need.
''My hope is the new commission has the funding role, and takes it from the DHBs.''
Mrs Taylor said a commission could be an effective tool, but it had to be independent.
''It also needs to have people with lived experience represented, and families, not just shoulder-tapping of the people they think are important enough to be represented.
