Te Kaunehera Māori O Aotearoa Seeks Māori-Led Approach To Suicide Prevention
by New Zealand Maori Council · SCOOPOn World Suicide Prevention Day, the New Zealand Māori Council acknowledges the devastating impact that suicide continues to have on Māori, whānau and communities.
Māori remain disproportionately affected by suicide compared to wider New Zealand population.
These alarming statistics are even more concerning given New Zealand has much higher suicide rates compared to the rest of the OECD countries.
These statistics highlight the urgent need for Māori-led approaches to suicide prevention, healing, and support.
NZMC is pleased to announce a new Suicide Prevention Project, funded by the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, which will see five regional hui held across the motu under the banner of Whakarongo.
These hui will create safe spaces for people with lived experience to share their kōrero on mental health, addiction, suicide, and suicide prevention.
These insights gathered through Whakarongo hui will contribute to shaping a “mental health kete” and user friendly directory for Māori whānau to know where to go to access services, resources, information and tools to support during times of mental distress.
The hui will provide a process for learning from kanohi ki te kanohi practices which will provide crucial insights into developing a Māori mental health framework which will be provided to government agencies to assist policy design.
Through Whakarongo, NZMC is ensuring that those with lived experience are not just consulted, but heard.
Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
“The council is encouraged by all the Service Providers out there doing incredible work. The Whakarongo hui are here to listen, support the reduction of suicide rates and assist providers in their mahi,” says coordinator Grace Hoet.
Alongside this project NZMC will be re-shaping its claim before the Waitangi Tribunal Health Services and Outcomes Inquiry, in anticipation of the new phase inquiring into mental health (including suicide and self-harm) and addictions.
Recent findings from the Waitangi Tribunal's Hauwhaikaha report inquiring into the disability system reinforce what NZMC has long been advocating for: that services need to be “by Māori, for Māori”.
It is hoped these same principles, particularly the importance of lived experience, Māori representation, meaningful partnership, and Crown accountability, will also be reflected in the Tribunal's consideration of Mental Health and Addiction issues.
About New Zealand Māori Council:
The New Zealand Māori Council (NZMC) has a statutory mandate under the Māori Community Development Act 1962 to represent Māori rights and interests. The Council is a national body made up of 16 Districts, each constituted through elected Māori Committees.
Advertisement - scroll to continue reading