Connect, Communicate & Care on World Suicide Prevention Day

OTAGO SOUTHLAND COMMUNITY ASKED TO CONNECT, COMMUNICATE AND CARE ON WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY

Media Release Friday 9 September 2016

Whanau, friends and colleagues are being urged to “Connect, Communicate and Care” with those they think may be at risk on World Suicide Prevention Day.

On Saturday 10 September Suicide Prevention will be acknowledged around the world. The focus gives communities permission to reach out to people they are concerned about.

WellSouth Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator Paul Martin says “suicide is preventable and the best way to reduce it is for the whole community to work together and offer help and support by connecting, communicating and caring."

He says World Suicide Prevention Day provides an opportunity for a responsible dialogue about suicide prevention. He says community engagement is one of the keys to reducing suicide. Friends, family and colleagues can support those at risk along with assistance as needed from the medical profession.

Mr Martin is encouraging whanau and colleagues to check in with people they may be concerned about over the weekend. ‘Start a caring conversation with them ask them how they’re going. Offer them support and hope and if necessary connect them to professionals and other members of the community to ensure they have the support they need.”

WellSouth has developed a Suicide Safety Checklist with tips for people who are at risk and their support people. Additionally WellSouth has a Safety Plan that whanau, friends and family can use to help begin the conversation and document a plan to increase people’s safety. These are available from www.wellsouth.org.nz

Discussions around the importance of community in suicide prevention coincide with

Otago Southland Suicide Prevention services moving into the primary health network. At the beginning of August, Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator Paul Martin relocated from the Southern District Health Board to the WellSouth Dunedin office.

WellSouth Chief Executive Ian Macara said funding for the role shifted from the Southern DHB to WellSouth in recognition that the most effective way to prevent suicide is working with the community and alongside primary health providers.

Mr Martin says family, friends and colleagues or people thinking about harming themselves can access the following resources:

• If a person is at immediate risk of harming themselves, dial 111 and ask for Police
• Otago or Southland Mental Health Emergency team 0800 467 846 (press 1 for Southland, or 2 for Otago) in an emergency
• Tautoko suicide prevention helpline 0508 TAUTOKO (0508 828 865) 24 hours
• Lifeline 0800 543 354
• Youthline 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
• Kidsline 0800 543 754 (4pm to 6pm weekdays)
• The Lowdown www.thelowdown.co.nz
• Depression helpline www.depression.org.nz or 0800 111 757 (24-hour service)

ENDS.

WellSouth_Suicide_Safety_Plan.pdf

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