LifeKeepers programme marks six years of suicide prevention

Every 40 seconds, a life is lost to suicide worldwide. World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September is an important annual event in the Le Va calendar, providing an opportunity to acknowledge the impact suicide has on so many families in Aotearoa.

Also in September this year, Le Va’s national suicide prevention training programme – LifeKeepers – reached the milestone of six years in action, working tirelessly to equip Kiwis with the knowledge and skills to prevent suicide.

Tiana Watkins, Senior Manager Suicide Prevention for LifeKeepers, paid special tribute to Le Va’s Chief Executive, Denise Kingi-Uluave, for her significant contribution and leadership in this space.

Tiana added, “Six years in the making, six years of working passionately to prevent suicide, six years of celebrating ordinary people doing extraordinary things in suicide prevention, right across the motu. We all have the power to inspire hope – to simply ask others if they’re okay, lend a listening ear without judgement, and let them know you genuinely care.”

What began with a handful of individuals in 2017 has now grown to almost 15,000 people certified as LifeKeepers, having completed in person or online training.

To learn more about LifeKeepers, visit www.lifekeepers.nz.

Helplines

If you need to talk, you can call or text 1737 for free anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak or text with a trained counsellor.

• Depression Helpline 0800 111 757 – When you’re feeling down and would like to talk to a trained counsellor.
• Healthline 0800 611 116 – If you’re feeling unwell, sick or need advice.
• Samaritans 0800 726 666 – For callers from the lower North Island, Christchurch and West Coast. For callers from all other regions phone (04) 473 9739.
• Youthline 0800 376 633 – Free text 234 or email: talk@youthline.co.nz.
• What’s Up 0800 942 8787 – For 5-18 year olds; 1pm to 11pm.
• Kidsline 0800 54 37 54 (0800 KIDSLINE) – For children up to 14 years of age; 4pm to 6pm weekdays.
• OUTLine NZ 0800 688 5463 (0800 OUTLINE) – Support for sexuality or gender identity issues.