1. Suicide PreventionInformation for AsiancommunitiesIvan YeoMental Health Promoter

2. Suicide and suicidal behaviours are a majorhealth and social issue in New Zealand.Each year approximately 500 people taketheir own lives.This figure represents a tragic loss ofpotential and a tremendous impact onthose families, friends, workplaces andcommunities that are affected by the loss ofsomeone through suicide.Ministry of Health (2012) 3. Suicide in NZ: 2009 A total of 506 peopledied by suicide This equates to 11.2deaths per 100,000population(age-standardised). The 2009 suicide ratewas 25.5% below thepeak rate in 1998. 4. Sex There is a distinct gender difference insuicide rates. 77% of suicide deaths in 2009were males. 391 male deaths (17.8 deaths per 100,000 malepopulation, age-standardised). 115 female deaths (5.0 deaths per 100,000female population, age-standardised). The 2009 male suicide rate was 25.4% below thepeak rate in 1995. The female suicide rate hasremained steady over time.Ministry of Health (2012) 5. Asian suicide deaths in NZ: 2004-2009 2009: 25 (16 male, 9 female) 2008: 17 (9 male, 8 female) 2007: 14 (8 male, 6 female) 2006: 14 (5 male, 9 female) 2005: 13 (6 male, 7 female) 2004: 10 (6 male, 4 female) Difficult to identify trends: NZs Asian populationhas changed significantly over this time. Age-standardised rates are not calculated:because the numbers of deaths are small, ratestend to be highly variable and may be misleading 6. There are at least 2500 admissions tohospital for serious intentional self-harm injuries every year.For data comparability purposes, this figure excludespatients who were discharged from an emergencydepartment with a length of stay of less than twodays.Ministry of Health. (2012). 7. Intentional Self-Harm Hospitalisation(Asian Population) 2009: 87 (3.4 % of total).Females accounted for 58.6 % of all Asianintentional self-harm hospitalisations. 2008: 83 (3.4 % of total), 60.2 % female. 2007: 109 (4.1 % of total), 69.7% female. 2006: 85 (3 % of total), 71% female. 8. Why Do People Take Their Own Life? Why Do People Take Their Own Life?There are no simple or definitive explanationsas to why people die by suicideThe reasons that people choose to take theirown life are very complex, and often thereasons are not clear to others.Commonwealth of Australia (2005) 9. Associate Minister of Health (2006) 10. Chinese often regard mental health problems,including depression and suicidal behaviours, tobe caused by social factors, such as a failure tofulfil family and societal expectations.In Chinese culture, there is a strong stigmaattached to suicide, which is often seen asshameful to both the individual and the collectiveesteem of the family.Completing suicide is not really seen as anindividual act, but greatly impacts on families andsignificant others.Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand (2010) 11. Anecdotal evidence has suggested that theprevalence of self-harm and suicide attemptsare increasing.Research in these areas has not yet beenfocused solely about Asians in New Zealand. 12. Health and Wellbeing of Asian Students:Youth07 survey 15% Asian secondary school students reportedhaving suicidal thoughts in the past year, and 8% had made a plan to attempt suicide 4% had made a suicide attempt in the past year. Overall, 20% of Asian male students and 31% ofAsian female students had poor mental andemotional health (WHO-5 Wellbeing Index)Parackal et al (2011) 13. For Chinese, Indian and other Asian students,depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts &behaviours were more prevalent for females. 14. For Chinese students, the proportion who hadthoughts of suicide decreased from 23% in 2001 to15% in 2007, and the proportion who attemptedsuicide decreased from 10% in 2001 to 4% in 2007. For Indian students, there were no significant changesfrom 2001 to 2007 in suicide-related behaviours. Among Chinese and Indian students, 18% of femalesand 7-8% of males showed significant depressivesymptoms. (no change 2001-2007) 15. Chinese, Indian and other Asian students aremore likely than NZ European students to reportobstacles to accessing healthcare. In 2007, 14% of Chinese students, 17% of Indianstudents and 16% of Asian students had beenunable to access healthcare when they needed it. Major obstacles included- lack of knowledge about the healthcare system;- cost and transport;- concerns about confidentiality; and- not wanting to make a fuss. 16. Youth07 recommended: Recognise the diversity and specific needs of themany Asian communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. Develop culturally appropriate programmes to de-stigmatise mental health issues. Provide resources, programmes and strategies thatenable the healthy development of Asian youngpeople. 17. International and New Zealandliterature suggest that resiliencyand protective factors can be moreeffective and insightful than solelyfocusing on risk and vulnerability. Ihimaera, L., & MacDonald, P. (2009) pg32 18. Defining Risk & Protective Factors Risk factors: increase the likelihood of suicidalbehaviour or make a person more vulnerable; and Protective factors: reduce the likelihood ofsuicidal behaviour and work to improve apersons ability to cope with difficultcircumstances.Commonwealth of Australia. (2005) 19. Risk and proactive factors can occur at: individual or personal level (mental and physical health,self-esteem, and ability to deal with difficultcircumstances, manage emotions, or cope with stress); social level (relationships and involvement with otherssuch as family, friends, workmates, the widercommunity and the persons sense of belonging); and contextual level or the broader life environment (social,political, environmental, cultural and economic factorsthat contribute to available options and quality of life)Commonwealth of Australia. (2005) 20. Protective factors may include: connectedness to family personal resilience, coping and problem-solving skills responsibility for children family communication patterns presence of a signicant other good physical and mental health positive beliefs and values community and social integration economic security in older age. Commonwealth of Australia. (2005) 21. For Asian communities family cultures community connection access to services and resources destigmatising mental illness 22. Current gaps research to understand suicidality andprotective factors in New Zealands Asiancommunities. culturally competent and accessibleservices. accessible resources for a range of Asiangroups. 23. Mental Health Foundation focuses on creating a society where all peoplecan flourish and experience positive mentalwellbeing. suicide prevention is a core focus of our work,which includes working with communities andprofessionals to support safe and effectivesuicide prevention activities, reduce stigma anddevelop positive mental health and wellbeing. 24. Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand a national information service provided by theMental Health Foundation of New Zealand. provides high quality information to promote safeand effective suicide prevention activities. contracted by the Ministry of Health to support theNew Zealand Suicide Prevention Strategy 2006-2016. 25. Goals of NZSPS Promote mental healthand well-being, andprevent mental healthproblems Improve the care ofpeople who areexperiencing mentaldisorders associatedwith suicidal behaviours Improve the care ofpeople who make non-fatal suicide attempts Reduce access to themeans of suicide Associate Minister of Health. (2006). 26. Goals of NZSPS Promote the safereporting and portrayalof suicidal behaviour bythe media Support families/whnau, friends andothers affected by asuicide or suicideattempt Expand the evidenceabout rates, causes andeffective interventions. Associate Minister of Health. (2006). 27. Asian groups areculturally diverse andhave varying degrees ofacculturation to NewZealand societyConsequently, suicideprevention policies,programmes and servicesneed to account for thisdiversity Associate Minister of Health. (2006). 28. References Associate Minister of Health. (2006). The New Zealand Suicide Prevention Strategy2006 2016. Wellington: Ministry of Health. Commonwealth of Australia. (2005). A Framework for Effective Community-BasedSuicide Prevention (Draft for Consultation). Australian Governments Community LifeProject: Adelaide. Ihimaera, L., & MacDonald, P. (2009). Te Whakauruora. Restoration of Health: MaoriSuicide Prevention Resource. Wellington: Ministry of Health Ministry of Health (2012) Suicide Facts 2009: Deaths and intentional self-harmhospitalisations. Wellington: Ministry of Health Parackal, S., Ameratunga, S., Tin Tin, S., Wong, S., & Denny, S. (2011). Youth07: Thehealth and wellbeing of secondary school students in New Zealand: Results forChinese, Indian and other Asian students. Auckland: The University of Auckland. Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand (2010) adaptation of Department ofCommunities, The State of Queensland (2010) Responding to people at risk of suicide:How can you and your organisation help? Auckland: Mental Health Foundation ofNew Zealand.