Ezra steps forward for struggling Wairarapa youth

BRINGING BACK KNOWLEDGE: Ezra Stobbart, 19, hopes attending the World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference will give him the tools needed to help Wairarapa's young people.

Ezra Stobbart has gone from sharing his story at Aratoi to representing Wairarapa youth at an international suicide prevention summit -- supported by one of New Zealand's foremost champions of mental health.

The Carterton resident is attending the 2016 World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference and corresponding Youth Summit, held in Rotorua next month.

The conference will focus on improving the wellbeing of indigenous communities through cultural recognition and practices, and will feature presentations from Maori, Aboriginal and Native American health practitioners, educators, artists and sportspeople.

Ezra, 19, was a presenter at E Tu Kahikatea, a suicide prevention workshop in Masterton, where he spoke of his own battle with depression and survival of many suicide attempts.

Since then, as a member of Rangatahi 2 Rangatira, he has been mentoring fellow young people, and hopes to spread further awareness of youth suicide, which has dogged Wairarapa for some time.

To attend the conference, Ezra received funding for the Wellington Regional Youth Workers Trust -- and sponsorship from comedian and Nutters Club host Mike King, one of the conference's keynote speakers.

"Mike is the most awesome person, and his story is so inspiring -- it's so cool to have his support," Ezra said. "There are a lot of young people struggling in Wairarapa, and this is an opportunity to bring some knowledge back. It will be good to learn more about the services available for young Maori, and the ways I can help."

Ezra, who grew up in Lower Hutt, was adopted into a Maori family and grew up immersed in tikanga Maori. He began struggling with depression in his pre-teens, exacerbated by childhood trauma and bullying.

In his 19 years, he said he has attempted suicide 33 times -- matched by the number of funerals he has attended for suicide victims.

"In Maoridom, suicide is a taboo subject," Ezra said. "Meanwhile, our young people are dying, and they're getting younger and younger."

His presentation at E Tu Kahikatea inspired him to keep raising awareness, and he has since attended two Maori suicide prevention summits. He said Maori are vulnerable to mental health issues as they have been divorced from their cultural identity -- an effect of forced assimilation.

"When the Europeans made New Zealand a colony, they pressed their ideas down on Maori. They lost their land, mana and strength.

"The Europeans introduced alcohol, and intoxicated the culture -- and addiction has been passed down through generations."

Ezra said the international conference will focus on curative methods practiced in indigenous communities before colonisation, which he hopes can help his young mentees.

For example, ta moko can be used as a method of healing and empowerment for Maori struggling with depression, and spiritual healers are also used.

"Treating depression doesn't have be taking a pill for the rest of your days.

"It would be great to help our young people reconnect with their cultural roots, learn what worked for their ancestors and get back to basics."

He also hopes to learn techniques to help young people in extreme distress. "We need to be able to pick up on these cries for help."

Speakers at the conference include Mike King, Sir Mason Durie, Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell, former South Sydney Rabbitohs player Joe Williams and William "Hawk" Birdshead, founder of the Native American Suicide Prevention Organization.