A series of suicide prevention videos has been released. Photo/Getty Images
A series of suicide prevention videos has been released. Photo/Getty Images
A series of suicide prevention videos aimed at rangatahi aim to shine a light on the issue and encourage young people to open up about their feelings.
The fourth and final video in the series, called #OutintheOpen, looks at some of the myths around suicide and encourages rangatahi to sharetheir thoughts and feelings with someone they trust, Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell said.
in 2015/16, there were 579 people who committed suicide in New Zealand, including 35 people in the Bay of Plenty District Health Board catchment area, which includes Tauranga, Katikati, Te Puke, Whakatane, Kawerau and Opotiki.
"Suicide is a hard kaupapa to talk about, but it is something that affects every community. The message behind the video is to get rangatahi to talk with friends and whānau - it could be one of the best things you could do for them," Mr Flavell said.
"Aotearoa New Zealand has one of the highest youth suicide rates in the OECD and rangatahi are two and a half times more likely to take their lives than non-Māori."
The video series was produced by Te Rau Matatini and developed by rangatahi Māori who have had personal experience with suicide. It was funded via the $2.1 million Rangatahi Suicide Prevention Fund set up in Budget 2015.
Nationwide, 28 organisations were supported to run rangatahi-led suicide prevention initiatives with 38 projects funded.
In Budget 2017, a further $8 million was allocated over four years to extend the fund which aims to reduce suicide and suicidal behaviour among rangatahi Māori.
"Our rangatahi are the future leaders of tomorrow. To lose a single young person to suicide - is simply one too many. The rate of Māori suicide has been too high for too long," says Mr Flavell.
Lifeline - 0800 543 354 Suicide Crisis Helpline (open 24/7) - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757 Samaritans - 0800 726 666 Youthline (open 24/7) - 0800 376 633. Text 234 for free between 8am and midnight, or email talk@youthline.co.nz.
0800 WHATSUP (0800 9428 787), Open between 1pm and 10pm on weekdays and from 3pm to 10pm on weekends. Online chat is available from 7pm to 10pm every day at www.whatsup.co.nz.
Healthline - 0800 611 116 For more information about support and services available to you, contact the Mental Health Foundation's free Resource and Information Service on 09 623 4812 during office hours or email info@mentalhealth.org.nz
