A five-year plan aiming to tackle New Zealand’s “stubbornly high suicide rates” has been released today.
The plan includes new strategies like peer support roles for mental health patients in emergency departments, and crisis recovery cafés so people don’t have to resort to a hospital and can receive care in the community.
The SMC asked experts to comment.
Anthony O’Brien, Associate Professor in Mental Health Nursing, University of Waikato, comments:
“It is encouraging to see this new action plan on suicide. There is some tension between the action areas of the plan, and other areas of policy. Some actions require no funding but have the potential to limit suicide risk.
“For example the role of alcohol is highlighted, but curbs on alcohol advertising are not suggested. There is no plan to act on the role of social media in fueling suicide risk. There is limited recognition in the plan of the increased risk of suicide among people who are not employed, despite the report identifying social determinants contributing to suicide risk.
“It is good to see recognition of how various workforces can respond to suicidal thinking and support for those bereaved by suicide. There could be more recognition of the role of primary health care. It was surprising that the Access and Choice Programme was not included in current health-led suicide prevention supports. Also absent is the role of school nurses who in addition to providing support for students experiencing distress could be mobilised as school-based champions of suicide prevention.
“Given the commitment to measurable outcomes it would have been good to see some recognition of a suicide research strategy.”
No conflict of interest declared.