Police address suicide in latest recruitment campaign

Police address suicide in latest recruitment campaign

A new advertisement which deals with issues of suicide and calls for recruits to join the New Zealand police force has been supported by the Mental Health Foundation.

Street art showing a woman cowering away from demons and a police officer supporting her was revealed in the launch of the advertisement at the Otara Markets car park today.

Mental Health Foundation chief executive Judi Clements attended the launch of the campaign and praised the police for their work helping people in mental distress.

“I acknowledge the work of the police in recruiting people from local communities and from a diverse range of cultures, with values such as compassion and empathy, which are necessary in working with people in mental distress,” Ms Clements says.

“Mental health problems are an ordinary part of the human condition. One in five people in any given year and almost half of all New Zealanders will experience some kind of mental distress in their lifetime.”

The police officer featured in the street art as well as on television and radio advertisements, constable Lio Kaihau, explains that the woman he was helping was talking about taking her own life.

“We go to a lot of jobs where people hit rock bottom and want to commit suicide. I’ve been to a few jobs where I’ve managed to talk people out of it, and now their lives are changed around. I keep in contact with them, so they get to know me not just as a police officer but as a normal person. That’s who I am, I’m here to help people,” he says.

Ms Clements says the police are often the service which responds and the Mental Health Foundation acknowledges the importance of the work they do.

“Of particular concern is suicide which is an issue for all New Zealanders. We all need to work together across agencies with our communities to reduce the number of suicides,” she says.

“Some of the most effective prevention methods are strong positive relationships, healthy, supportive whanau and family relationships and strong cultural identity,” Ms Clements says.

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