Cousins Kara and Karissa Cunningham lost their cousin Lisa to suicide. Photo / Yes We Care
Cousins Kara and Karissa Cunningham lost their cousin Lisa to suicide. Photo / Yes We Care
Karissa Cunningham admits she's an overprotective mother.
The Rotorua woman lost her 16-year-old cousin Lisa Cunningham to suicide when she was a teenager. Now two of her own children are teenagers.
"I am paranoid," Mrs Cunningham said.
"I wrap my kids in cotton wool. I am always checking on them."
Nearly 20 years after the death, she spoke about it for the first time at an event run by health funding coalition Yes We Care at the Rotorua Lakefront today. Lisa's mother and another cousin were also there.
Lisa Cunningham died, aged 16, by suicide. Photo / Supplied
The three women were among dozens of Rotorua residents who shared stories about their lost loved ones.
Exactly 606 pairs of shoes, one for every person who died from suicide in the year to June 2017, was set up on the cobblestones.
The footwear is being taken around the country before reaching Parliament's steps on September 10. Bereaved families will talk about the change they want to see in the presence of politicians.
