July 23, 2013
Tough script tackles suicide
Suicide, sexual abuse, alcohol and teen pregnancy are in the script for Northland rangatahi as they undergo a programme aimed at addressing some of the region’s youth problems.
Tania Papali’i, the coordinator of the Northland District Health Board’s promoting whānau and youth resilience programme, says a play tackling those issues is touring the region’s schools.
After the play, Matanui, there is a workshop where the audience works through what the characters did.
She says issues like suicide can’t be swept under the carpet.
"Our youth are talking about it with or without us so this play is a forum for discussion but also promoting that help is out there in many different ways and there are services out there and there are also your own peers and other ways of gathering support around you," Ms Papali’i says.
The Health Ministry-funded strategy also includes a Travellers programme to help young people transition to high school and a training programme to increase the capacity of whānau and community to identify and respond appropriately to risk factors.
Copyright © 2013, UMA Broadcasting Ltd