Editorial: Hope in suicide decline

Less people have committed suicide in Northland in recent months. Photo / File

It may seem odd to be positive about death, but the fact that less people have taken their lives in Northland in recent months is a good sign.

We can't ignore the figures which show that from June 2012 to June 2013, there were 34 confirmed suicides in Northland, compared with 26 the year before.

But it is not a surprise - we knew what the figures were likely to be as it was recognised last year that Northland was experiencing a harrowing suicide trend.

What is especially positive about 2013 is the lower number of Maori taking their lives - two people in 2013 compared to 10 in the last half of 2012.

That anyone took their life in Northland remains a tragedy, but we should grasp that opportunity to be positive with the lower numbers.

It remains a tragedy, though, that there continues to be a reluctance to discuss suicide and its causative factors openly.

There is still the misguided belief in some sectors that if we don't talk about it, everything will be all right.

Depression is not something that goes away when treated with silence, but talking about it erodes its dark power.

Take part in the conversation - your District Health Board is, grieving parents and friends are, schools and children are, your local newspaper is.

It's hard, but if we don't talk about it, nothing positive will happen. Who wants that?