Suicide takes the lives of hundreds of New Zealanders
every year and has devastating effects on families,
friendship groups, workplaces and communities. Suicide
prevention is the responsibility of every New Zealander and
this is best achieved by collective action, says Le Va chief
executive Denise Kingi-Uluave.
Annually, New
Zealand’s Chief Coroner publishes provisional suicide
statistics. The most recent publication showed 607 people
died by suspected suicide during July 2020 – June
2021.
Marking World Suicide Prevention Day this week,
Le Va remembers those who have been lost to suicide and
their families, and honours those who are courageously
rebuilding their lives after reaching a place of
hopelessness. But they do not stand alone. Families, friends
and communities have shown commitment to save
lives.
“Suicide is complex, and it takes a village
to reach out and support someone through brave
conversations,” says Denise.
Important conversations
and warning signs
Everyone has a part to play in
reaching out and offering support to those in need. Through
the right support and having important conversations, people
can find answers that help them through adversity and
difficult periods in their lives.
Mental health
problems are important influences, as well as alcohol and
substance misuse. Relationship breakdowns, bereavement and
social loneliness can be contributors.
Denise adds:
“It’s important to see people as individuals and not
make assumptions about the causes of their distress. There
are many reasons why someone takes their
life.”
John’s story
Recently, John found out
his friend’s son, Duncan, was struggling and had stopped
connecting with his whānau. Though the two men didn’t
know each other, Duncan felt safe to be honest with a
stranger as he reflected on his life and his thoughts of
self-harm. The whānau were grateful that John reached out.
He was at the right place, at the right time, to support
Duncan and to connect the whānau with
services.
“Acting compassionately does not require
any specific resource, time or money. It just relies on you
being able to relate to someone else’s emotional state and
wanting to support them. Compassion can change and save
lives,” says John.
He highlighted that, a few years
ago, he would have been really hesitant and nervous to talk
about suicide but since becoming a LifeKeeper and over the
past couple of years his confidence has grown and he
regularly uses his LifeKeepers skills – they are now just
part and parcel of any difficult conversations he navigates
with loved ones.
LifeKeepers and FLO
Le Va’s
suicide prevention programmes, LifeKeepers and FLO, are on a
mission to equip people in communities to recognise and
respond safely to support people at risk of suicide to get
the help they need. An award ceremony hosted by the Suicide
Prevention Office will take place later this week to
recognise individual and community efforts to prevent
suicide in New Zealand.
Help is out there
If you
are concerned for your immediate safety, please call 111. If
you or someone you know are struggling to cope, please call
1737 for support.
To find out more information go to
www.lifekeepers.nz and
www.leva.co.nz/flo
About
Le Va:
Le Va supports New Zealand communities to have
improved health and social outcomes and is highly regarded
throughout the health sector with a proven track record of
success within mental health and addiction, disability,
workforce development, public health, sexual violence
prevention and suicide prevention.
To find out more
information visit www.leva.co.nz
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