May 25, 2015
Tikanga alternatives sought for suicide struggle
Ngati Pikiao is promoting a return to traditional values as an approach to countering high suicide rates among young Maori.
The Te Arawa iwi is hosting a three day suicide prevention conference in Rotorua, with speakers including former minister Dame Tariana Turia, health advocate Naida Glavish, human rights activist Moana Jackson and mental health advocate Mike King.
Conference manager Michael Naera says elders felt there is too much focus in other hui on risk factors such as drugs and alcohol, and they wanted to look at ways to give rangatahi hope and a feeling for their potential.
He says Maori also need to look at their own tikanga rather that relying solely on outsiders.
"One of our keynote speakers said yesterday when someone was down in our whanau we gathered we hui'ed and we supported that person who was down. Nowadays you often see our people often referred to mental health services, you take care of my loved one. We're trying to change that, bring back our old ways. We've got them we just have to re-ignite that fire within our people to care for our own," Mr Naera says.
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