Dr. Lynne Russell

Telling the story of Māori Suicide

Kāi TahuNgāti Kahungunu

3258 in 6 years

541 in 2012/2013 year

10 each week

Suicides in Aotearoa

1st cousins’ half-brotheraged 22

son, grandson,brother, nephew

cousin, friend

1st cousin’s husbandaged 40s

son, husband,Dad of 2, brother,

brother-in-law, Uncle, nephew, cousin, friend

Nephewaged 17

son, partner,grandson, brother of 3,

nephew, cousin,friend

Nephewaged 21

son, partner,father of 1, grandson, brother of 2, nephew,

cousin, friend

Whānau suicide

Provisional suicide rates by ethnicity per 100,000 population between July 2007 and June 2013 (n=3258)

How can westop suicides ?

“I continue to believe we need to gently bring the issue of suicide from out of the shadows.”

(Chief Coroner, Judge Neil MacLean, 3 Sept 2012)

“It needs to be discussed out in the open. For too long we have carried shame for having feelings of suicide or knowledge that someone we love has taken their lives. We are bereft with confusion, guilt and anger.” (Wahine Māori, 18 March 2013)

“It is the kind of pain that is difficult to voice because it is so complex. But we must speak to it out loud without shame if we are ever going to heal from it.” (First Nations sister, 18 March 2013)

Telling the story of Māori suicide

Whānau must be facilitated to tell their own stories… to exercise rangatiratanga over their lives

‘Suicide Story’

“The greatest resource is whānau…” (Dame Iritana Tawhiwhirangi)

“Whānau offer the most untapped potential for Māori suicide prevention.” (Hon Tariana Turia)

Whānau

“I think if people could see how utterly bereft and devastated suicide leaves those most important to them and how people damage themselves because of the loss that a beloved one’s suicide does to them –

would it make a difference? Most often I see the silent ongoing pain that with the passing of time tends to mask, but it is always ever present.” (Indigenous woman)

What would make a difference?