Every year approximately over 500 people, many of them Māori, take their own lives by suicide, affecting the lives of many others. Te Puni Kōkiri, with a group of Rangatahi Maori using their personal experiences, have developed online resources around four themes to support suicide prevention initiatives.
At the Tikanga Youth Synod (TYS) in June 2017, the issue of the unsatisfactory level of mental health awareness and discussion in the Church was identified as a priority, especially as so many people are affected by mental health in one way or another. Motion 9 was bought to GSTHW May 2018, and a small working group is now working hard to find, share and support the Anglican Church as it raises mental health awareness.
