October 17, 2014
Communities key in suicide watch
Mental health specialists are encouraging greater community involvement in suicide prevention.
New Zealand’s self-harm and suicide rates are among the highest in the OECD, with the rate for rangatahi Maori increasing while non-Maori youth suicide rates are falling.
Ana Sokratov from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists' Maori committee told the college's conference that there are ways to make a difference.
Ms Sokratov, a mental health services consumer consultant who has Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa and Bulgarian whakapapa, says not talking about suicide hasn’t worked.
People need to be able to recognise the signs of distress, what they can do about it and where they can refer people for help.
" Teenagers or rangatahi can be quite tumultuous at times and people are vulnerable and impulsive. If we can support people through what they experience as being challenging and get them through that place then often we have addressed the most significant outcome, which is that they feel unsupported, isolated, can not talk to anyone, the problems overwhelming and they choose this as an option " she says.
Ana Sokratov says Mental Health Commission and Maori health workforce agency Te Rau Matatini have developed a new approach and funding to get communities involved in suicide prevention.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH ANA SOKRATOV CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjMyMTk=
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