News

Today Netflix will release a new season of 13 Reasons Why – a controversial series that can be triggering for our most vulnerable. The first two seasons were widely watched by teenagers, which included themes of suicide, sexual assault, bullying and other issues that led to many viewers feeling distressed and in need of support.

Today the Chief Coroner’s release of provisional suicide statistics showing 685 people died by suspected suicide in the last year, also showed a disproportionate increase in Māori and Pasifika deaths.

Le Va, a Pacific organisation whose work focusses on wellbeing and are leading work to prevent suicide, send their alofa (love) to those grieving, and are strongly advocating for urgent action to address suicide in Aotearoa.

Le Va was hosted by New Zealand’s 18 coroners recently to share suicide prevention training aiming to support them in their roles. Read Coroner Carla na Nagara’s reflections on the workshop.

We are delighted to announce the recipients of Le Va’s Faiva Ora Community Innovations fund, supported by the Ministry of Health’s Faiva Ora Pasifika Disability action plan.

Recognising and celebrating educational achievement for Pasifika communities is important. Some scholarship recipients may have defied all odds to get to this point in their academic and professional career, and it’s also important to visibly role model that success is possible, especially for future generations.

One in 5 New Zealanders live with mental illness or addiction in a given year, and for Pasifika people, it’s 1 in 4. 173,933 New Zealanders accessed mental health and addiction services in 2016/17 – a 73% growth in access over the last decade, whilst funding increased by 40%.