About the Suicide Prevention and Postvention Coordinator
Our coordinator helps promote and co-ordinate actions undertaken by existing regional services that contribute to suicide prevention and postvention across Taranaki. Services and Organisations that have been involved include Suicide Prevention Taranaki, Taranaki Rural Support, Taranaki Retreat, Supporting Families in Mental Illness, Ministry of Education, CAMHS, Oranga Tamariki, Clinical Advisory Service Aotearoa, Victim Support and TDHB.
New Zealand Annual Suicide Statistics
The Chief Coroner releases national provisional suicide statistics each year to help suicide prevention efforts and initiatives undertaken by other agencies.
For more information and to read the 2017 Media release and provisional figures check out https://coronialservices.justice.govt.nz/suicide/a...
Suicide Prevention Taranaki
Suicide Prevention Taranaki was established on the recommendation of a suicide prevention needs assessment carried out by New Plymouth injury Safe in 2008. The group includes representatives from Taranaki DHB Mental Health & Addiction services, Tui Ora, Taranaki Rural Support Trust, Family Works, Supporting Families in Mental Illness, Needle Exchange Taranaki, Agender NZ, interested individuals and other local contracted mental health service providers. Representatives from some local secondary schools, Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and Primary Health Organisations (PHO) are also on the mailing list for minutes and input.
Meetings are held 9am - 10am on the 2nd Friday of each month, in Barretts Lounge, TDHB. For further information to be included on the mailing list contact Sue Martin sue.martin@tuiora.co.nz
Suicide Prevention Taranaki worked alongside other services and professionals to develop a local resource that responds to the needs of the community. See the flyer Conversations about Suicide for tips and information on where to go for help. Available in English 'Conversations about Suicide and Te Reo 'Ngaa whakawhitiwhit whakaaro mo te whakamormori' (below, right click open new tab).
Conversation about Suicide - English version
Ngaa whakawhitiwhiti whakaaro mo te whakamormori
Community Development
Suicide Prevention - Mens Advisory Group.
A mens advisory group focused on male mental health and suicide prevention has been established. All males (community members, service users or organisation reps) are encouraged to join. The group meets monthly, if you would like to join, or want more information about their functions please contact;
Jim Dickinson
Email: jim.dickinson@tdhb.org.nz or Phone: 021 243 8353
Training
Suicide Prevention and other mental health training opportunities will be posted here with links to register.
Risky Business: The Art of Assessing Suicide Risk and Imminent Danger
Undertaking a suicide risk assessment is not without its complexities. One size does not fit all. This advanced level workshop provides the opportunity for participants to depth their knowledge and competency in the “art” of assessment and management of suicide through empathetic dialogue rather than a more traditional assessment interview process. Participants will explore how factors such as nuance, context, culture, gender, socio-economic background, the quality and length of the therapeutic relationship impact on the process and the outcomes of an assessment.
Full day workshop - New Plymouth - 13 March 2019 $287.50
For more information check out https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/risky-business-the-...
Lifekeepers
LifeKeepers is New Zealand’s first home-grown national suicide prevention training programme for all people living in New Zealand. You can think of it like first aid training - giving people the skills to recognise and support those at risk of suicide. LifeKeepers will be free of charge to our communities.
This programme has been launched. We will keep you up to date with information, and hope that Lifekeepers will be provided in Taranaki in the near future.
Full day workshop for Maori - Ngamotu (New Plymouth) - 26 March 2019
For more information check out https://www.lifekeepers.nz/
Practical Alternatives to Self Harm
One Day Workshop - New Plymouth - Thursday, 23 May 2019 $250+GST
Two Day Workshop - New Plymouth - Thursday, 23 May & Friday, 24 May 2019 $375+GST
Alternatives to Self-Harm (ASH) is an approach that that has been demonstrated to lead to a reduction of self-harm risk for people with emotional dysregulation. It can increase confidence in clients to maintain more effective coping strategies, as well as progressing to other therapies as needed.
It is strongly influenced by Narrative Therapy, in that it takes a position of curious and respectful enquiry to the stories of those who consult with us (the mental health professional), developing a re-authoring approach to stories about their lives and the role self-harm has played. The program also includes some cognitive behavioural coping strategies, as well as some art therapy ideas where a less verbal approach has proved invaluable in being able to express feelings and tell stories in meaningful ways.
https://www.grow.co.nz/page/practical-alternatives...
Suicide Prevention Education Workshops
Our Suicide Prevention Coordinator is available to facilitate workshops to Taranaki businesses and organisations to inform staff about suicide prevention, myths and facts, and how to initiate a conversation when you have concerns about someone. If you are interested in hosting a workshop contact Sue on 06 759 7314.
Custodians of Hope: Supporting the Suicidal Person in non mental health settings
Identifying suicide risk is only one part of working with the suicidal person. The increasing demand on mental health services means that front line workers are often having to provide ongoing support for those assessed as not being in imminent danger of suicide. A recent Coroner's finding has highlighted the need for counsellors in private practice, NGO mental health support organisations and front-line health and social services to be up to date in their competency and capability to engage with the suicidal client and to have good referral processes in place.
Full day workshop - New Plymouth - 25 June 2019
For more infomation check out https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/custodians-of-hope-...
MH101 Open Workshop
MH101 is a one-day workshop for New Zealanders who want to learn how to recognise mental illness, torelate to those experiencing mental illness or distress and to know how to respond appropriately. Not current dates for training available however information is available through https://www.mh101.co.nz/workshops
Where to find help
Resources
Mental Health Foundation provide numerous resources for mental health and suicide prevention. The links to three fantastic resources designed specifically for suicide prevention and postvention are listed below. Each resource is available for download as a pdf or to order.
Comment or Not Comment - This resource will help you to make the right choice for you, your family and whanau about talking to media after losing a loved one to suicide. http://shop.mentalhealth.org.nz/product/888-commen...
Having Suicidal Thoughts - This new resource is for people who are managing their own suicidal thoughts or feelings. It offers information about what support is available, advice from people who have lived through their own suicidal thoughts, and suggestions about recovery. http://shop.mentalhealth.org.nz/product/877-having...
Safety Plan - This personal safety plan allows you to keep a record of the things you can do and the people you can contact to keep yourself safe if you are feeling really bad. One copy of this personal safety plan is included with every Having Suicidal Thoughts booklet. http://shop.mentalhealth.org.nz/product/878-person...
https://www.afterasuicide.nz/ - This website offers practical information and guidance if someone you love or care about has died by suicide.
CASA - Clinical Advisory Services Aotearoa
CASA provide numerous resources about
- 13 Things to try when you're struggling
- Information for after a suicide
- Cyberbullying
- deliberate self harm
- identifying suicide concerns in young people
- Memorials and remembrance activities
- Guidelines for open invitation suicide postvention community meetings PLUS much more.
Find all these plus more from https://casa.org.nz/resources
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts and would like to speak with someone;
- Lifeline (open 24/7) 0800 543 354
- Depression Helpline (open 24/7) 0800 111 757 or www.depression.org
- Healthline (open 24/7) 0800 611 116
- Suicide Helpline (open 24/7) 0508 828 865 – This is a service for those thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends
- Youthline (open 24/7) 0800 376 633 or free txt 234 between 8am and midnight
- Kidsline (open 24/7 0800 543 754 – This service is for children aged 5 to 18
- Rural Support Trust 0800 787 254
- Taranaki District Health Board Crisis Team (Assessment & Brief Care) 0508 277 478 – sometimes you will need to leave a message
- Need to Talk? 1737 free call or text any time. Are you feeling anxious, want to talk, feeling down or a bit overwhelmed? call or text.
The service is not a frontline one, but helps implement the Taranaki action plan, increase community awareness, co-ordinate training and education, and support communities to design their own initiatives to reduce self-harm and suicide.
It was established as a result of the Taranaki Suicide Prevention and Postvention Action Plan 2015-17, a nationwide commitment from DHBs to combat the significant problem of suicide in Aotearoa. You can read the document here or for further information email here