Symposium Overview
Symposium Whakatauki (proverb)
Symposium Theme
Symposium Objectives
Who Should Attend?
External Planning Group
Whakatauki (Proverb)
Nau te rourou, naku te rourou ka ora ai nga iwi
Direct translation: With my basket and your basket the people will be well
Essence of whakatauki (or meaning): We each contribute to the health of the people
The essence of this whakatauki provides the foundation for this event. It is in this spirit we acknowledge that mainstream and culturally-based prevention approaches each have their own strengths, and can provide a valuable contribution to the well-being of people.
Theme
Culture and Suicide Prevention in Aotearoa
This year's theme aligns with the World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September) theme as set by the International Association for Suicide Prevention, ‘Suicide Prevention in Different Cultures.'
It has been chosen in the context of increasing concern about suicide rates among MÄori, which have declined but not matched a trend of decreases in the general population. As suicide is viewed differently across cultures, this needs to be taken into consideration when working with individuals at risk, their families, and communities.
This symposium aims to increase knowledge and understanding of working with MÄori and other cultures and foster good working relationships.
Objectives
The symposium has 5 overall objectives:
- To promote culturally appropriate service provision and practice when working with MÄori and other cultures.
- To encourage greater awareness and understanding of the suicide rates and risk and protective factors among MÄori.
- To encourage greater networking and foster relationships between mainstream and culturally-specific service providers.
- To promote greater awareness and understanding of safe and unsafe practice in suicide prevention across all cultures.
- To encourage providers to build evaluation into their work with a view to contributing to the evidence base of working effectively with MÄori and other cultures.
Who Should Attend?
- People working in the field of suicide prevention.
- A range of sectors such as education, corrections, police, social development, youth development.
- Health sector, including MÄori health, mental health, public health and primary health.
- Social service organisations and service providers.
- Non government organisations.
- Government agencies and local government.
- Funders, planners and policy advisors.
- Consumer advocacy groups.
- Researchers.
- Media.
External Planning Group
This group guides our planning for the symposium by providing advice and feedback on the direction and activities of the event.
This year our planning group members are:
Murdoch Pahi (Kaumatua) - Cultural Advisor
Regional Public Health
Jenny Skinner - Senior Policy Analyst
Ministry of Health
Tracey Hiroa - Coordinator
Kia Piki Whanganui
Mary Strang - Mental Health Promoter
Regional Public Health
Ray Ropata
Te Rau Matatini
Sarah Lee - Event coordinator
