A total of 450 suicide deaths were recorded from 2014 to 2017 in Fiji.

The shocking statistics were revealed during the 21st Attorney-General’s Conference by Dr Ordille Chang, the associate professor and Head of the school of medical services at the Fiji National University.

According to Dr Chang, these statistics passed the number of road traffic accidents which was 314 for the same period.

She also says that suicide deaths during that three-year are three times the number of drowning and four times greater the number of deaths from dengue, leptospirosis and HIV AIDS combined.

Dr Chang says the country is definitely facing a public health epidemic with regard to suicide.

She adds there is a need to reorganize services and shift from stand-alone psychiatric hospitals to community-based services.

The conference which is underway at the Inter-Continental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa will end today.