This paper explores how social factors may influence New Zealand suicide rates, and how knowledge of these factors can assist in developing prevention strategies for reducing suicidal behaviour. The first part of this paper provides an overview of New Zealand suicide statistics over a 40-year period, noting that for New Zealand men aged 20 to 35 years, suicide is the cause of one-third of all deaths. The paper also discusses a number of historical and contemporary theories about suicide, and briefly outlines three models that have contributed to suicide prevention strategies and approaches. The paper also presents a summary of six reports, commissioned by the Ministry of Health between 2001 and 2005, which explore a number of social explanations in relation to New Zealand's suicide trends. These six reports were written to assist the development of New Zealand's proposed national suicide prevention strategy. The first report presents a review of international literature on social, economic and cultural influences in suicide rates. The second report presents a New Zealand-based literature review on similar influences. Risk factors for suicidal behaviour in Maori are examined in the third report, and report 4 makes a comparison between the impact of economic recession on youth suicide in New Zealand and Finland. The fifth report presents a qualitative study of the connection between New Zealand suicide rates and a range of socio-economic factors. The study findings show a link between socio-economic position, unemployment, and suicide. The overarching conclusion drawn from the six reports is that social factors are relevant to suicide. The document concludes by examining what is known to be effective in preventing suicidal behaviours, and explores current approaches to suicide prevention in New Zealand. There is little specific reference to family violence in the reports; however, it is recognised that reducing family violence and child abuse may minimise suicidal behaviour.