Suicide rise prompts hikoi of hope

The Ngapuhi elders have organised a Hikoi of Hope in Kaikohe today, to send a message of hope and let people know they care.

A roopu of Northland kaumatua and kuia have decided it is time for them to speak up about suicide after losing too many whanau.

The Ngapuhi elders have organised a Hikoi of Hope in Kaikohe today, to send a message of hope and let people know they care.

Hikoi facilitator Shelley Naera-Tau said the walk was sparked by the number of suicides in the region.

"Our [kaumatua and kuia] group meet for a chat and they wanted to do something, they wanted to go into the community and spread a message, letting people know that they care.

"These old people may not be related to these people dying but they're the ones at the marae dressed in all black," she said.

Mrs Naera-Tau said the kaumatua and kuia speaking out showed a shift of mindset.

She said that, once people started discussing the pain they experienced after losing someone to suicide, the perceptions they once had changed.

"Different people started standing up talking about their grandson who committed suicide and how much pain they felt, and so they realised they were all feeling the same."

Mrs Naera-Tau said in Maori culture there were beliefs that the bodies of people who committed suicide should be faced towards the west or buried outside of the urupa gates. However, following the hui, elders agreed that everyone needed to be welcomed on to the marae, regardless of how they died.

Annual provisional suicide statistics released this week by Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall showed there were 28 deaths by suicide from June 2014 to June 2015.

Mrs Naera-Tau said the statistics were heartbreaking and the walk, from the Kaikohe RSA to the Ngapuhi Runanga, was about spreading hope.

"After the hikoi we will sit down again and the kaumatua and kuia will look at what else we can do," she said.

Tania Papalii, resilience programme lead, Mental Health and Addiction Services for Northland DHB, said Northland had seen an increase in middle-aged males committing suicide in 2015. Nationally, the Maori suicide total of 130 deaths was the highest since provisional statistics were first recorded.

The number of male suicides had also risen from 385 last year to 428 this year.

Lily George is co-managing a Ngatiwai focused project aimed at targeting Maori youth suicide in Northland through arts and culture. It was launched following a cluster of Northland suicides in 2012.

Where to get help:
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youth services: (06) 3555 906
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (4pm to 6pm weekdays)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• The Word
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• CASPER Suicide Prevention
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.