Presentation Transcript

1. Telling the story of Māori Suicide Dr. Lynne Russell KāiTahu NgātiKahungunu
2. Suicides in Aotearoa 3258 in 6 years 541 in 2012/2013 year 10 each week
3. Nephew aged 17 son, partner, grandson, brother of 3, nephew, cousin, friend Whānau suicide Nephew aged 21 son, partner, father of 1, grandson, brother of 2, nephew, cousin, friend
4. Provisional suicide rates by ethnicity per 100,000 population between July 2007 and June 2013 (n=3258)
5. How can we stop suicides?
6. “I continue to believe we need to gently bring the issue of suicide from out of the shadows.” (Chief Coroner, Judge Neil MacLean, 3 Sept 2012)
7. “It needs to be discussed out in the open. For too long we have carried shame for having feelings of suicide or knowledge that someone we love has taken their lives. We are bereft with confusion, guilt and anger.” (WahineMāori, 18 March 2013)
8. “It is the kind of pain that is difficult to voice because it is so complex. But we must speak to it out loud without shame if we are ever going to heal from it.” (First Nations sister, 18 March 2013)
9. Telling the story of Māori suicide Whānau must be facilitated to tell their own stories… to exercise rangatiratanga over their lives
10. ‘Suicide Story’
11. Whānau “The greatest resource is whānau…” (Dame IritanaTawhiwhirangi) “Whānau offer the most untapped potential for Māori suicide prevention.” (Hon TarianaTuria)
12. What would make a difference? “I think if people could see how utterly bereft and devastated suicide leaves those most important to them and how people damage themselves because of the loss that a beloved one’s suicide does to them – would it make a difference? Most often I see the silent ongoing pain that with the passing of time tends to mask, but it is always ever present.” (Indigenous woman)