FLO Talanoa digital resource – B.R.A.V.E

To mark World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September, Le Va launched a digital resource called ‘B.R.A.V.E’, showcasing Pasifika young people making a plea for all to listen to what they have to say about suicide prevention.

B.R.A.V.E has been viewed by more than 70,000 people via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or the Le Va website, and the amount of times that it has been shared by people to their social media friends and contacts has been phenomenal!

Many Pasifika people and groups with large followings on social media have been inspired to share the B.R.A.V.E video, including the Vodafone Warriors, NRL Welfare and Education, Silver Fern Maria Tutaia, Jonah Lomu, Bill Urale aka King Kapisi, past and present NRL and Rugby Union players, Shortland Street star Frankie Adams, as well as the Mental Health Foundation, Te Pou, National Suicide Prevention group for Tonga, and various organisations in Australia.

We are particularly thankful and honoured to have worked with the young cast of the video – Paris Fifita, Josiah Tualamali’i, Jaycee Tanuvasa, Darren Milan Taniue, Toni Tangi’ia Walsh and Esera Brown.

B.R.A.V.E is one of a number of resources intended for use as part of Le Va’s FLO Talanoa Facilitator Training and community education workshops.  Like other effective digital resources, our aim is to:

• promote safe conversations between parents and adults alike, with young people
• provide participants with confidence, strength, information and empowerment when challenged with tough problems
• provide our communities with a sense of hope 
• amplify the voices of our young people.

If you need to talk to someone free-call (NZ) the suicide crisis helpline 0508 828865 (0508 Tautoko). Or, for more detailed information about suicide prevention and supports available, check out our online Suicide Prevention Knowledge Bank – the Source of the FLO.

We can all help give hope by asking others if they are ok, listening to what they have to say in a non-judgmental way, and letting them know you care.