Mental Health Foundation to host suicide prevention forum

MEDIA RELEASE

July 10, 2011

Mental Health Foundation to host suicide prevention forum in Auckland

Empowering people and communities with basic and practical ways of keeping their loved ones safe is one of the key aims behind the Mental Health Foundation’s annual suicide prevention forum, “How Do We Talk About Suicide?”

The forum is open to all members of the public, and will be held on Wednesday September 7 from 8am to 5pm at the Telstra Clear Pacific Events Centre in South Auckland. It will also be streamed live on the internet and recorded for those unable to attend in person.

“We’re encouraging anyone with an interest in suicide prevention in our communities to attend, from clinical and social workers through to families, whanau and people with experience of mental illness,” says Judi Clements, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation.

“The forum will be very interactive, with panel discussions, a diverse array of speakers and plenty of time for questions from the audience.”

Topics covered during the day will include supporting people at risk, warning signs, suicide in communities, the challenges of suicide prevention via social media, indigenous wellbeing, and finding hope and support after the loss of a loved one.

The full speakers list is yet to be confirmed, but will include suicide survivors and bereaved people, GPs, counsellors and psychologists, social and youth workers, Maori health workers, kaumatua and media representatives.

“We all have a role to play in suicide prevention, and we need dialogue to be happening at a grass roots community level,” says Judi Clements. “By bringing people together from all walks of life to share their experience and stories, we aim to break down barriers associated with the discussion of suicide in a way that lets people know what they can do to make a difference.

“Depression and health problems can be major contributing factors to suicide, and mental health issues in particular still carry a huge amount of stigma. Open and honest discussion in a safe environment like our annual forum is just one way in which we can all contribute to the body of knowledge that will help prevent suicide in our communities.”

Registration for the “How Do We Talk About Suicide?” forum costs $65 and can be done online at www.spinz.org.nz. A limited number of registration fee waivers are available for those on low incomes and can be applied for via this website.

ENDS