Waka Hourua - National Māori and Pasifika Suicide Prevention Programme media release
WAKA HOURUA
Te Rau Matatini Pou Whakahaere Chief Executive – Maria Baker
31 August 2017 Midday release
If anything, we have learnt as Te Rau Matatini and Le Va in the National Māori and Pasifika Suicide Prevention Programme
is that:
“Collaboraction (collaboration and action) is needed alongside mental health services”.
With primary care, social services, non-government organisations and across sector groups in communities. Collectively
there is a need to create safety nets in communities and maximise effectiveness of services that will protect
individuals against suicide risk.
It is important to be realistic about the role of mental health services in preventing suicide, given the challenges in
resource. It is this specialist mental health workforce who are the most undervalued yet expected to provide
interventions for people at risk. We have seen the extreme demands on this workforce across New Zealand, yet we do
little to provide them the support they need let alone consider workforce development they require inside mental health
services. What will help this workforce is a voice, more support in the workplace and access to differing systems of
care in communities that enable a range of approaches to respond to risk safely.
Communities need to be part of the solution. If there are systems of care where all services shift to models of care in
recognition of the importance of young people, family, community and their full potential - there is real hope their
holistic health and social needs can be addressed early and effectively in their community.
This takes leadership and support to share and adapt resources across groups and sectors in communities to break down
barriers and to work together in ways that ensure approaches are best suited to the culture and needs of people.
Collaboractively we can do better to be better helpers to each other!
ends