Northland candidates talk suicide policies

In an effort to help you make your election decision, Northland electorate candidates talk about suicide.

As part of our 2017 Election coverage the Northern Advocate has asked candidates form the Whangarei, Northland and Te Tai Tokerau electorates a series of questions. We hope their answers help you make a decision on who to vote for.
Today the Northland electorate candidates answer the question:
With Northland's shocking suicide figures (an all-time high of 36 for the 12 months ending June 2017) what would you do to address the issue if elected?

Matt King, National:
Suicide is a complex societal issue with a large number of causes. As a former policeman having worked at the coal face for 14 years I attended a number of suicide scenes. The details behind some of these have stuck in my memory.

There is no job a policeman hates more than to attend a suicide and then to have to advise the family members of the details. I can recall a number of times arguing with my police colleagues over whose turn it was to do this job. Poverty, unemployment, drug use, family violence and isolation are some of the drivers of suicide.

Bringing people out of poverty with employment, mentoring using community role models, involvement in sports and leading active lives along with funding of mental health services and counselling will help lessen the problem.

National have committed an additional $100 million in a social investment mental health package targeting innovative ways to tackle mental health issues. The $100 million social investment fund will be invested in 17 new initiatives aimed at helping New Zealanders suffering from mental health issues, as well as focusing on improving services and earlier intervention.

This includes sending mental health workers with police to mental health calls out, more mental health professionals working with schools, and specific efforts to ensure people getting mental health treatment can stay in their homes. The $100 million fund is part of a $224 million boost for mental health services over four years in Budget 2017. It builds on the Government's $1.4 billion-a-year investment in mental health and addiction services.

Winston Peters, NZ First:
Yes, suicide is a major problem in Northland but it is also a major problem for the rest of the country. In the 2016/17 year a total of 606 people in New Zealand took their own life which was up from 579 and 564 in the previous two years. New Zealand has the highest rate of youth suicide in the OECD.

Like others, New Zealand First has been calling for a national inquiry and such an inquiry has become even more urgent.

The chronic lack of funding from central government for mental health is now showing up in these alarming statistics. As Mike King pointed out - what is stable about a system where one has to prove they are suicidal to even access the little services that are available? It is obvious more funding must be injected as soon as possible. New Zealand First would ensure this happens.

Mel Taylor, Conservatives:
Our suicide rate is at record high. Surely this is the trigger required for us to change the way we deal with the issue of suicide, and to further look at the research that shows up to 90% of male adolescents that attempt suicide were sexually abused as children.

It's evident from our record suicides last year that there are more people feeling disconnected and isolated without having the tools to deal appropriately with feelings they're experiencing.

It's imperative that we give relationship training in schools so that young people have the tools to build, develop and maintain healthy relationships and deal appropriately with conflict.

The Conservative Party believes that a different approach to treating mental health problems is needed. Mental health cannot be fixed by medication, only suppressed and controlled. It's important that we provide appropriate counselling for those suffering mental health issues so that they are empowered to believe in the potential for recovery.
Additionally, we must work on restoring healthy relationships and healthy families, to reduce sexual, and other abuse and therefore reduce suicide triggers.

The Conservative Party values life, from conception to natural death, and is committed to exploring the causes of, and implementing measures needed to tackle our suicide epidemic.

The question that must be asked, is "How can we be genuinely concerned at the number of people who decide the only way out of their suffering and misery is suicide, whilst promote the concept of legally assisted suicide?" The two seem mutually incompatible.

Where to get help:
If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.
Or if you need to talk to someone else:
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
Suicide crisis helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) 24/7
Youthline: 0800 376 633 need to talk? Free call or text 1737 (24/7).
Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (24/7)
Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7)
Samaritans: 0800 726 666