INDEPENDENT NEWS

Dunne launches 30-point plan to tackle suicide rate

Published: Mon 27 May 2013 11:11 AM
Hon Peter Dunne
Associate Minister of Health
Media Release
Dunne launches 30-point plan to tackle suicide rate
An $8 million four-year programme to strengthen Māori and Pasifika communities; support for anyone who loses a family member to suicide and a pilot programme supporting small communities losing a major industry or employer are among 30 initiatives in the new national suicide prevention plan launched by Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne today.
‘Every suicide is a tragedy, and our suicide rate is unacceptably high, particularly among Maori.
“This must change and the launch of this plan today is an important next step in trying to achieve that,” Mr Dunne said.
He said the fact that 30 specific actions in the New Zealand Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2013 to 2016 involve eight government agencies highlights the reality that suicide is complex and requires a range of solutions.
“And those solutions almost always require people and organisations working together,” he said.
Mr Dunne said the suicide toll at around 500 was often compared to the road toll, at around 300.
“But in a sense that comparison actually highlights the issue with suicide – ‘make it click’, ‘slow down’ and ‘don’t drink and drive’ go a long way to reducing the road toll. The answers for suicide are far more complex, and this plan is another important step in dealing with such complex realities.
“However, plans, on their own, do not save lives. There are no easy answers. But people working together, with good resources, focus and with a good plan underpinning that work give us hope of making real progress,” he said.
“Some of the plan’s initiatives focus on strengthening or expanding existing programmes, including further training and support for frontline staff in contact with people who may be at risk of suicide. Others are new initiatives that we plan to trial.
‘We are going to boost support initiatives that give families, whānau and communities the tools they need to respond to people who are struggling or who have lost a friend or loved one to suicide. We are also strengthening support for vulnerable communities, including responding to suicide contagion or clusters,” Mr Dunne said.
The new plan also introduces new approaches, including a partnership with the Health Quality and Safety Commission to get better knowledge of contributing factors and patterns of suicidal behaviour in New Zealand.
“Currently little is known about risk factors, trends and situations specific to people who end their lives by suicide. These actions will lead to better sharing of suicide data and monitoring of risk factors.”
Growing use of technology is also reflected in the plan through a small social media pilot around suicide prevention and increasing information on tackling cyber-bullying.
The plan builds on previous initiatives, including the over-arching NZ Suicide Prevention Strategy 2006-2016 and Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2008-2012.
Its initiatives will receive $25 million in earmarked funding over four years, including $8 million from the Budget 2012 commitment to strengthening communities to prevent suicide.
The full plan can be found at www.health.govt.nz/publication/new-zealand-suicide-prevention-action-plan-2013-2016
Ends.

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