Suicide Prevention Day (10th Sept) activity in Hamilton

Suicide Prevention Day (10th Sept) activity in Hamilton

The family of Nicky Stevens are marking the ‘six month anniversary’ of his death by inviting friends and others concerned about the level of suicide in New Zealand to a vigil outside Waikato Hospital on the afternoon of Thursday 10th September, World Suicide Prevention Day.

Coroner’s figures show that 569 suicides were recorded in New Zealand in the year to May 31st – a shocking figure nearly double that of road accident deaths, yet one drawing far less official attention and resource.

These figures do not include deaths such as Nicky’s, where hearings and investigations to determine the official cause of death are yet to be completed – or in his case, even started.

Nicky’s family believe "most, if not all, suicides are preventable – if the right intervention, support structures and knowledge are in place,” said his mother Jane Stevens.

“There is a growing community and family-based pool of knowledge about what works, and what doesn’t, to prevent suicide.”

“We need the Government and the mental health profession to stop protecting their own, dramatically unsuccessful systems, and start looking at what is working here and overseas,” she said.

ENDS

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