More than 850 community members across the country participated in a workshop through our FLO: Pasifika for Life Suicide Prevention Programme over the last 12 months. Youth workers, teachers, creatives and many more, engaged in our FLO Talanoa education workshops, all now equipped with a new found confidence, knowing what to do and say if concerned about someone’s safety, and a greater understanding of where to access supports and services if needed.
Young people, alongside their families and wider support networks, attended Mental Wealth workshops in spaces such as schools, rugby league clubs and mentoring settings, armed with the skills to spot the warning signs if a friend was in distress.
New partnerships were forged and existing ones were strengthened through co-designed fonos, co-facilitated workshops and collective community engagements.
The team are excited to work on an array of new projects in new spaces in the new dawn. Watch this space!
Supported by the Ministry of Health’s Suicide Prevention office, the Le Va Pasifika Suicide Prevention Community Fund aims to empower Pasifika families and communities to prevent suicide and to respond effectively if and when a suicide occurs. Director of the Suicide Prevention Office, Carla na Nagara, says the range of groups receiving funds highlights how widespread suicide is in our communities. A recent visit by the director to fund recipient Zeal NZ provided an opportunity to see the impact of that support at the grassroots level.
The Fund seeks to support Pasifika communities to effectively implement community-based suicide prevention initiatives so that families and communities are:
- strongly connected
- equipped with the skills to cope with distress
- actively building resilience and reducing the risks of suicide
- assisted in accessing support services and
- supported to build a strong cultural identity to enhance mental wellbeing
Le Va Chief Executive Denise Kingi-‘Ulu’ave says, “the objectives are to build resilience within our communities, so that they are able to identify when somebody might be at risk of suicide, and then respond in a really strength based and positive way”.
A recent article from the Pacific Media Network showcases fund recipient Love Somebody Charitable Trust that is currently developing videos of well-known celebrities speaking on topics relating to mental health.
‘E fofō e le alamea le alamea’
The solutions to preventing suicide within our Pasifika communities, lie within our Pasifika communities.
We are pleased to announce the names of the recipients of the Le Va Pasifika Suicide Prevention Community Fund.
Le Va is administering the Fund on behalf of the Suicide Prevention Office to empower Pasifika families and communities to prevent suicide. We received an overwhelming response from our Pasifika communities from all over the country, with applications totalling in excess of $9 million. With an exceptionally high calibre of applications that showed innovation and heart and a fund pool of close to $1 million, the selection process proved to be even more difficult.
With the support of an external panel we have narrowed our list of 2020 recipients to these18 applicants:
- Te Papalaulelei Youth – youth engaging workshops in the Porirua Tokelauan community that focuses on cultural identity, intergenerational engagement, mental wellbeing and resilience.
- Resonate – a creative arts project utilising contemporary and Pacific art forms to tell the story of a young Pasifika male’s experience with depression and anxiety.
- FAFSWAG Queer Indigenous Arts Collective – a digital resource by and for the rainbow community.
- South Waikato YMCA – a South Waikato Barber Chair programme targeting young men aged between 12 –18 years.
- Tongan Society South Canterbury Incorporated – a suite of hard copy and digital resources translated into Lea Fakatonga (Tongan language).
- Vaka Pasifika – a Tongan specific programme targeting Tongan men, focusing on healthy relationships.
- Waikato Pacific Youth Network – a series of youth events, including a youth Fono and sports day, in the Waikato region for Pasifika youth.
- Bay of Plenty Youth Development Trust will deliver the AIGA programme, two classes per week for Pasifika youth in a boxing gym aligned to building resilience and self-confidence. The programme will assign Pasifika mentors to Pasifika youth.
- Du Val Foundation – a 30-day online programme for young Pasifika males.
- Tunuma Creatives – a Pacific Men’s digital portal, use recorded music and deliver workshops for Pacific men and assess their lifelong aspirations.
- NZ Rugby League – a wellbeing roadshow around the country to different rugby league districts, to deliver educational workshops alongside Le Va and develop champions.
- PHAB Association Incorporated – resources and workshops run by young people addressing suicidal ideation, cultural identity, and connection for Pasifika youth with disabilities.
- Feel Technologies – a digital app to support Pasifika wellbeing and suicide prevention.
- Zeal Education Trust – a range of theatre workshops, showcase events and mentoring sessions for Pasifika youth aged between 13 – 18 years.
- Love Somebody Charitable Trust – 10 digital resources showcasing Pasifika celebrities and influencers sharing key messages of hope along with workshops in small group sessions.
- Mission4 Men Charitable Trust – a holistic men’s programme targeted within the Palmerston North Samoan community.
- South Seas Healthcare Trust – a youth peer mentoring programme for Pasifika young people.
- Gateway Community Trust – a programme to enhance wellbeing through a family-led suicide prevention campaign, targeting families bereaved by suicide.
Watch this space as we profile each of these exciting projects over the coming weeks via our social media channels.
‘E fofō e le alamea le alamea’
The solutions to preventing suicide within our Pasifika communities, lie within our Pasifika communities.
Le Va has been contracted by the Ministry of Health to deliver the Pasifika Suicide Prevention Community Fund. The purpose of the Community Fund is to build the capacity of Pasifika families and communities to prevent suicide and to respond effectively if and when a suicide occurs.
Le Va received a record number of applicants, with over 90 applications for community-based projects. Le Va is now proud to announce that we are able to confirm funding for 18 community projects, with a total value over $900,000. These projects reflect the vast diversity in both ethnicity and innovation in community-led solutions to preventing suicide. While a large proportion of the projects are based in the Auckland region, there are also a few projects based in other areas with large Pasifika populations such as the Waikato and Wellington regions, as well as some of our smaller cities such as Timaru and Tauranga.
The key objectives of the Community Fund are to support Pasifika families and communities to develop solutions to prevent suicide through:
• providing support to Pasifika families and communities that are experiencing suicide risk and/or are bereaved by suicide;
• prioritising population groups within our communities that are known to be at higher risk of suicidal distress;
• building inclusive communities and strengthening community resilience;
• encouraging a focus on mental health; and/or
• raising awareness about available support services.
We understand that different people with different levels of advantage require different approaches and resources to achieve equitable health outcomes. The funded projects are set to target priority groups such as youth, those bereaved by suicide or with lived experience, rural communities, LGBTQI+, and Pasifika males. Innovative approaches within these projects include sports, the creative arts, schools, churches, events and digital solutions.
We are extremely excited to see these projects unfold, so watch this space as we profile each of the 18 funded projects over the coming months, updating you all on their progress!
534 young people and their families increasing their mental health literacy through the Mental Wealth project, and 13,879 users entering real-life problems into the Aunty Dee problem-solving tool.
A highlight for the year was co-facilitating Mental Wealth workshops within the rugby league grassroots community alongside our longstanding partners the New Zealand Vodafone Warriors. The workshops aimed to equip players, coaches, and families with the skills to identify the signs of mental distress, the confidence to check in on a mate, and the knowledge to know where to find the supports and services available.
“The rugby league community has really enjoyed the workshops delivered by the team at Le Va. The groundswell of clubs and teams wanting to do the workshops has only slowed by the impact of Covid-19 and one coach said they wish they had done it earlier in the year – the tools for maintaining wellbeing that Le Va shared was a big hit,” says Vodafone Warriors Welfare and Education Manager, Jerry Seuseu.
With the onset of COVID-19 lockdowns, the FLO Programme undertook steps to find innovative ways to both meet the growing demand from the community, as well as the impact on workshop deliveries. Four digital workshops via Zoom were trialled, receiving positive feedback from participants, increasing the programme’s delivery modalities to new and exciting heights.
Over the next 12 months, the FLO Programme will continue to focus on Pasifika families, ensuring they are well equipped to know how to prevent suicide, by communicating well with each, increasing their sense of strong cultural identity, connecting often with others, growing as a strong family and finding hope and courage through spirituality.
A massive year for the team, with e-learning a-plenty, the launch of LifeKeepers e-learning + webinar, and face-to-face workshops throughout the motu, all allowing us to engage with caring communities everywhere from Dunedin to Whangarei.
It was a year that saw many significant collaborations. Over the past year, we have been honoured to work alongside the New Zealand Defence Force, Fulton Hogan, Radio Rhema, Victim Support, and St. John to support their staff to grow the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to help prevent suicide. We also had the privilege of connecting with the Wellington City Mission earlier in the year, delivering a full-day workshop to a number of their frontline staff – a real highlight for the team to spend the day sharing and learning more about the incredible work they do to support their local community.
A notable highlight for the team has been the stories that our LifeKeepers have shared with us through the LifeKeepers Logs. Over 600 LifeKeepers shared their stories of connecting with someone they thought might be at risk of suicide, and more than 500 have then supported them to engage with the right supports.
It is through these stories that we hear the true impact of the Lifekeepers programme to hundreds of people within our community. Thank you to all our certified LifeKeepers who to inspire us as they continue to create communities of C.A.R.E.
Press release
Le Va chief executive and clinical psychologist, Denise Kingi-Uluave said, “every suicide is a tragedy that has long-lasting effects on families and communities. Everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide and everyone’s role will be different.”
“A critical aspect of preventing suicide requires a focus on equipping families and communities with the knowledge, skills and resources that strengthen their resilience to life’s many stressors. Our purpose at Le Va is to support Pasifika families and communities to unleash their full potential and have the best possible health and wellbeing outcomes.”
The Le Va Pasifika Suicide Prevention Community Fund aims to empower Pasifika families and communities to prevent suicide and to respond effectively if and when a suicide occurs.
The Community Fund seeks to support Pasifika communities to effectively implement community-based suicide prevention initiatives so that families and communities are:
• strongly connected
• equipped with the skills to cope with distress
• actively building resilience and reducing the risks of suicide
• assisted in accessing support services and
• supported to build a strong cultural identity to enhance mental wellbeing
Applications for funding will be for a minimum of $10k and a maximum of $300k. It will open from 3 June to initiatives with a focus on Pasifika suicide prevention and will close 30 June 2020.
For more information, and to apply for funding, visit www.leva.co.nz/suicide-prevention-fund
Le Va is New Zealand’s leading not-for-profit Pasifika organisation whose work spans mental health, suicide prevention, addictions, violence prevention, public health, disability support services and cultural competency.
Denise reiterated that we must all be committed to creating communities where everyone feels accepted for who they are and that we all have a sense of purpose and belonging.
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