Finding hope: Community suicide prevention initiatives saving lives

People heal in different ways. This gives them different doors to walk through and opportunities to engage with.”

Johnnie Timu, Brown Pride

On January 22, Le Va hosted a welcome fono for recipients of the 2026 Pacific Suicide Prevention Community Fund.

The room was filled with anticipation as Leilani Fina’i Clarke, Le Va’s senior manager for suicide prevention – Pacific, took to the podium to give the warmest Pacific greeting to the representatives who came from across the motu.

Funded by Te Whatu Ora, Le Va’s Pacific Suicide Prevention Community Fund supports communities to create innovative and sustainable solutions to prevent suicide.

The words of Le Va’s chief executive, Mati Dr Elizabeth Mati, carried weight and hope as she acknowledged the community groups stepping up to protect their own.

“This morning is about so much more than a formal welcome. It is a moment of recognition. Recognition of Pacific-led leadership in action. Recognition of the deep cultural knowledge that lives and breathes within our communities. And recognition that when suicide prevention is grounded in our Pacific values it becomes powerful and lifesaving,” she said.

Cliff Thompson from NZRL shared his organisation’s journey of suicide prevention, supported by Le Va. He spoke of creating safe spaces in locker rooms and establishing a network of wellbeing champions throughout Aotearoa to help young athletes navigate into the support they need.

Johnnie Timu from Brown Pride used an analogy from waka ama, his passion for community protection evident in every sentence.

“Waka ama has a cool resemblance to a village mentality – everyone has a role to play, everyone matters, and if one person doesn’t do their job, the waka doesn’t move forward.”

He described the community groups as the pace setters for the suicide prevention fund, Te Whatu Ora as the powerhouse in the centre, and Le Va as the steering and direction.

This wasn’t just a welcome event. It was a promise – that our communities will stand together, that suicide prevention is the responsibility of us all, and that hope can be built one conversation, one connection, one fono at a time.

The next round of Le Va’s Pacific Suicide Prevention Community Fund is open from 10 February 2026 and will close on 3 March. You can find out more and apply here: Pasifika Suicide Prevention Community Fund

2026 Pasifika Suicide Prevention Community Fund recipients:

• Le Afio’aga O Aotearoa Trust – Pacific Village Stewards
• Brown Pride Charitable Trust – Yeah The Boys / Yeah The Girls
• The South Seas Health Care Trust – South Seas Healthcare Suicide Prevention Fund 2025 Application
• LeVaiOfHope – LeVaiOfHope
• Fua Creative Limited – ‘Pikitai kiho ‘ulungaanga faka fonua – Cling to your culture’
• Please Blow My Mind Limited – Suicide Prevention Starts at Home (S.P.S.H.)
• Love Somebody Charitable Trust – Fight the Good Fight – Suicide Prevention
• Flying Geese Trust – Wayfinding for Life
• Snapback Gym ‘Toe a’e se tofa’ Gym Trust – Faasoa Wellbeing Programme: Strengthening Pasifika Youth and Families
• Nevertheless Trust – Rainbow+ Competency Training
• Wellington Fitness Community Trust – Pasifika Power Project
• Bay of Plenty Youth Development Trust – AIGA youth resilience and suicide prevention programme
• New Zealand Rugby League – NZRL Wellbeing Waka & Framework
• Without Limits Learning – Simply L.O.V.E Parenting Programme
• NZ Warriors – ‘Resiliency for Industry’ Wellbeing
• Potplant Studio – Mental Health Plant Workshops
• Tongan Society South Canterbury – Prosperous and Thriving Families
• Moana Vā –Thrive Health and Wellbeing Programme
• Zeal Youth Trust – Aotearoa Lupe – Culture and Identity Programme 2024/25