Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Government Has Created the Perfect Recipe for Suicide

Government Has Created the Perfect Recipe for Suicide

The release this week of statistics showing the highest rate of suicide since records began should come as no surprise to the NZ government. CASPER has repeatedly warned politicians that this country’s approach to suicide prevention increases rather decreases suicide risk. Despite the evidence the suicide prevention charity has provided, government has done nothing but continue year on year to provide more of the harmful interventions that rather than preventing suicide, induce people to take their lives.

“Creating a social environment where more and more people are marginalised, then responding to their distress by giving them drugs clinically proven to at least double their risk of suicide can only result in higher suicide numbers” said Maria Bradshaw, CEO of CASPER.

Ms Bradshaw’s son took his life in 2008 and assessments by Otago University on behalf of the Ministry of Health and international pharmaceutical company, Mylan Pharmaceuticals both concluded that the antidepressant he was prescribed 15 days before his death, was the probable cause of his suicide.

CASPER has provided a large body of credible evidence showing that when people feel sad or scared or worried, when they are lonely and isolated or suffer discrimination, labelling them as mentally disordered and giving them antidepressants increases their risk of suicide hugely. The government has chosen to ignore this evidence and pour more and more public funding into mental health services rather than addressing the causes of people’s distress and implementing social rather than medical suicide prevention measures.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Doing more of the same and expecting a different result is supposed to be the definition of madness” says the CASPER CEO, “but this is exactly what our government are doing. We have children as young as six taking their lives, we have the highest rate of suicide on record and astronomical rates by international comparisons. What will it take for the Government to admit that the current approach doesn’t work and to take a different approach?"

Bradshaw says post Christchurch earthquake demonstrated graphically that the social cohesion created when people commiserate or celebrate together prevents suicide.

“At the time of the earthquake suicide rates fell to zero as people came together to support each other and everyone felt valued and supported within their community. After the earthquake however suicide rates rocketed as mental health professionals with their labels and prescription pads swarmed over the city.”

When CASPER funded six bereaved parents to attend a meeting with John Key to plead for a change in policy and a commission of enquiry into suicide in New Zealand, they were met with indifference and a refusal to conduct an enquiry. According to Ms Bradshaw, the response from other political parties has been similar.

ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.