World Suicide Prevention Day in Dunedin

World Suicide Prevention Day in Dunedin.

Thursday, 1 September 2016

Press Release: Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust

The Dunedin based Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust is organising the annual World Suicide Prevention Day event on Saturday 10 September from 1pm in the Glenroy Auditorium, 1 Harrop Street, Dunedin.

The theme for World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 “Connect, Communicate, Care” is at the heart of suicide prevention. It is an initiative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health organisation (WHO). Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust has successfully organised this event in 2014 and 2015 and it has been well attended by hundreds of community members in the past.

Throughout the event there will be candles burning for each person who has died by suicide in New Zealand during the 12 month period from May 2015 to June 2016 – approximately 567 people (still to be confirmed by the Chief Coroner) This gold coin donation event will include invitations to agencies, mental health services and everyone in our community.

The keynote speaker for this event is Dr Chris Bowden from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. He teaches on human development, issues related to child and adolescent mental health and educational psychology. His research interests include suicide bereavement, grief, loss and resiliency. Chris works in suicide prevention delivering professional development and education to professionals, is an agent of the Regional Youth Mortality Review Group, and has worked as a regional co-ordinator for suicide postvention responses. He also developed the Waves programme for adults bereaved by suicide in conjunction with Skylight.

Other speakers for the day include Tyrin Tutaki (University of Otago student, focusing his korero around males, Maori and youth), Dr Janine Joyce (researcher and scholar specializing in spirituality, peaceful transformation and efficacy of complementary therapies), Dr Brad Strong (Medical Director of Mental Health Services at Southern DHB) and Sid Taylor (grieving father)

There will be space in the day for our community to share their thoughts, their journeys and positive stories about mental health.

There will be plenty of support provided during and after the event. Information on what support services are available in our community or nationwide will also be provided. Members of the public will have the opportunity to write messages of love on tokens that can be placed on a decorated art panel specially designed for this event by a local artist.

The Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust aims for zero suicide and a strong focus for the Trust is the provision of safeTALK programme delivery in the community. The Trust has their own registered trainer to deliver safeTALK workshops giving those in close contact with people that have suicidal thoughts some pointers on what to say and do.

The Trust’s bereavement group also provides much needed support to many in our community. The bereavement group is for friends and families of people who have taken their own lives. A support group can give a sense of community, support and belonging, at a time when the bereaved person feels disconnected from others.

Please join us and experience how a community comes together and becomes more connected.

http://lifematters.org.nz/

https://www.facebook.com/LifeMattersOtago

or email lifemattersotago@gmail.com

ENDS

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