November 26, 2014
Ideas shared on suicide prevention
Maori and Pacific people working to prevent suicide have come together for their first national hui-fono to discuss what can be done at a community level.
Mapihi Raharuhi, the Maori programme lead for the Waka Hourua Maori and Pasifika national suicide prevention programme, says it was a valuable opportunity to share knowledge and stories.
She says Maori suicide is often associated with feelings of whakama or shame and a wider disclocation from whanau and society.
There are things that can be done in the home.
"Part of that is starting back at home, making sure that we communicate with each other, we grow resilience within our whanau right from our babies, right through to our teenage members as well, still communicate with our parents, parents need to communicate with our teenagers around the issues that are happening for them. So simple things like sitting down having kai, talking to each other, making time to be a whanau," Ms Raharuhi says.
The most at risk group seems to be young Maori men aged 17 to 25, but there are also an alarming number of women aged 35 t0 45 who are attempting suicide.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH MAPIHI RAHARUHI CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjQzODA=
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