Tackling the high Maori suicide rate requires facing up to "blunt and ugly truths" about the causes including sexual abuse, drug and alcohol problems and family violence, says Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne.
His comments at a Maori suicide forum today come after the release of a $25 million national suicide prevention plan which aims to strengthen and expand existing suicide prevention programmes, as well as trial new initiatives.
The plan includes $8m for a programme to help Maori and Pasifika communities develop their their own solutions to suicide.
In a closing address to the forum of health and community leaders, hosted by Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae at Government House today, Mr Dunne said there was a need to be challenging and provocative when it came to discussing how to tackle the issue.
"The need to recognise some pretty blunt and ugly truths and be prepared to address them - sexual abuse, drug and alcohol abuse and family violence - and to be prepared to be up-front about these being causes in our society that we often tend to shy away from."
