Suicide 'everyone's business'

REACH OUT: Mental health workers Karney Herewini and Stormie Hunter-Rogan say we can all help to reduce suicide statistics. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO SKYBOX

"Suicide prevention is everyone's business" - that's the message Karney Herewini wants to get across to the community and he hopes to see a reduction in suicide statistics.

Mr Herewini, a co-ordinator with Kia Piki Te Ora suicide prevention programme, said the 2015 statistics released by the Chief Coroner were not encouraging. "There have been 569 suicides in New Zealand this year and that is only for the year to date and there have been others since those statistics were released. In our district health board region there is an average of 10 deaths per year. Trends and anecdotal evidence also suggest our region has vulnerable populations with high populations of elderly and Maori living within the region."

So what can we all do to help with suicide prevention?

Mr Herewini and fellow co-ordinator Stormie Hunter-Rogan say it is about reaching out to others in small ways and Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 will focus on spreading that message. "We will be at Majestic Square practising acts of kindness and encouraging others from 11am until 1pm," Ms Hunter-Rogan said. "We got really good responses ... last year and many people said they knew someone affected by suicide. It's about starting the conversation so that people become willing to show kindness and it comes from the heart without any expectation attached."

A hui for mental health support workers was facilitated by Kimiora Trust in Wanganui this week to discuss the best use of community resources, suicide prevention, intervention and post-support to continue momentum in those areas.

Mr Herewini said, "We will be working hard to carry out our aims but everyone can do something. If you give someone a wave or a smile it can lift their mood. The ripple effect can be passed on to other people in their lives."