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Suicide prevention for Pacific youth in New Zealand: Pacific community solutions

Year:
2012
Duration:
23 months
Approved budget:
$289,437.00
Researchers:
Associate Professor Jemaima Tiatia-Siau
Health issue:
Mental health (and sleep disorders)
Proposal type:
Pacific Health Networking Project
Lay summary
Recent patterns of youth suicide emerging amongst Pacific communities in New Zealand require an evidence-base that incorporates Pacific worldviews. It is thus vital to engage Pacific communities in the advancement of Pacific suicide prevention by engaging in talanoa (or discussion) about suicide, understanding the issue, and developing approaches and solutions that are appropriate for Pacific youth. The aim of this research is to engage Pacific communities to develop ethnically specific ways of developing these new understandings and approaches for suicide prevention for Pacific youth in this country. To achieve this, the project aims to address two fundamental questions 1) What contributes to Pacific youth suicide? 2) What solutions can Pacific communities offer towards advancing suicide prevention strategies that are Pacific focused? This research will build community knowledge around suicide, enhance understandings, destigmatise the issue, empower Pacific communities and expose gaps in current public health understandings of Pacific suicide.