August 03, 2022
Don’t lose hope says Oranga Tamariki survivor
A rangatahi who survived years of abuse and neglect in his whanau and under Oranga Tamariki care is speaking out to help other taitamariki and rangatahi in that situation who may be thinking of suicide.
Sixteen-year-old Ihorangi Reweti-Peters was removed from his parents as a baby because of their addiction problems, and then from his beloved grandparents at 10 because of mental health issues, and has been through 21 placements.
He attempted suicide a dozen times, but unlike the 39 young people who have taken their lives while in Oranga Tamariki care over the past five years, he survived – and he wants to help others contemplating suicide.
“It meant coming out publicly and sharing about the abuse I have faced within Oranga Tamariki care and my own journey through my many attempts to take my own life has shared to other young people that no matter what they are facing, no matter what they are experiencing, there is always hope and there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Mr Reweti-Peters says.
He recently won the well-being category of the youth-focused Impact Awards for his work with mental illness among youth, and also took part in last month’s youth parliament representing Te Tai Tonga.