Election 2023 – guidance on talking about, or reporting on, suicide and mental health

As the election nears, suicide and mental health will be publicly discussed. Here’s how to do so safely
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Found in: News / Statements
Date: 15 August 2023

Date: 16 August 2023 

As the election draws near, the Mental Health Foundation is conscious that suicide and mental health are pressing public health issues MPs and others will want to discuss.  

Sometimes public discussions on these topics can cause distress, so we have created some guidance for MPs and anyone else wanting to talk about suicide and mental health during the 2023 General Election.

Read our guidance to find out what to say (and what to avoid saying) when talking about suicide and mental health, and the reasons why thinking about these issues and speaking about them with compassion is critically important. 

We’ll be distributing this guidance to MPs’ offices either in person or through the mail. Please do share them with your networks if you think they would be useful. 

Authorised by Shaun Robinson, Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, Eden 3, Ground Floor, 16 Normanby Road, Mt Eden, Auckland 1024.