Suicide prevention is a core part of the Mental Health Foundation’s work.
We are committed to playing a strong role in achieving the goals of Every life matters – He tapu te Oranga oa ia tanagata – the Suicide Prevention Strategy 2019–2029 and Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2019–2024 for Aotearoa New Zealand. Read our statement about the new strategy and action plan.
We believe all our work toward creating an Aotearoa where everyone enjoys good mental health and wellbeing is ultimately work that prevents suicide.
To prevent suicide, New Zealand will need to take a broad look at what is causing people to become suicidal.
On a community level, we need:
- A reduction in alcohol and substance abuse
- Tino rangatiratanga
- Responsible media reporting
On an individual level we need:
- A reduction in violence
- Suicide prevention training in communities and workplaces
- School-based mental health and health services
- Access to effective treatment by a trained and well-resourced workforce
Currently, our suicide prevention advocacy work has
- A focus on reducing social and economic inequities, particularly for Māori, as these increase risk of suicide
- A strong emphasis on a need for trauma-informed, recovery-focused care. We would like to see a shift in approach from “what is wrong with you?” to “what has happened to you?”
- A vision of an evidence-based system of rating the safety and efficacy of suicide prevention programmes and interventions to increase public confidence in suicide prevention initiatives, protect vulnerable New Zealanders and guide the public, communities and the sector in their suicide prevention mahi
- A call for equal value and weight to be given to Tūramarama Ki Te Ora