Whangarei meeting to be held over NZ's suicide problem

The depth of New Zealand's suicide problem will be graphically illustrated at a public meeting in Whangarei tomorrow.

A number of suspected youth suicides in Northland has prompted a public meeting on the issue at Whangarei's Old Library from 7pm tomorrow.

CASPER (Community Action for Suicide Prevention, Education and Research) organised the meeting to raise awareness about youth suicide.

CASPER co-founder Debs Williams, whose daughter Cloudy committed suicide in 2008, will bring 547 pairs of shoes to the meeting to represent the number of people suspected of committing suicide in New Zealand last year. On average about 30 people commit suicide in Northland every year.

Ms Williams said the shoes were a graphic illustration of how big the suicide problem was. "That's 547 pairs of shoes that will no longer be filled."

New Zealand led OECD countries for its high suicide rate and it was no coincidence the country also topped the negative social issues that could be behind suicides - including unemployment, poverty, sexual abuse, poor housing and youth drinking, she said. "Suicide is about overcoming extreme emotional pain. They may not want to necessarily die, but they want to kill that pain they feel from these issues."

Ms Williams said the meeting would give information on suicide prevention.