A suicide prevention plan is out for consultation. (File photo) Photo: 123RF
Government agencies have warned a lack of resources will limit what they can do to prevent suicide in the new suicide prevention plan.
The Ministry of Health has launched consultation on its new five-year suicide prevention plan. It comes just months after shutting down the Suicide Prevention Office, which was the first action set out to be achieved in the 2019-2024 plan.
That current action plan under Every Life Matters - He Tapu te Oranga o ia Tangata, Suicide Prevention Strategy 2019-2029 is coming to an end this year.
But questions are already being raised within the mental health sector on whether this new plan will be able to budge Aoteaora's high suicide rate.
In ministry correspondence to Matt Doocey as Mental Health Minister, received by RNZ under the Official Information Act, it was said:
"Several agencies noted that they are limited in what actions they can propose leading at this time due to uncertainty about future priorities for agencies and agency resources."
The weekly briefing from July went on to say: "We are continuing to work through these considerations with agencies to finalise potential actions that are achievable within baseline resources."
Labour Party mental health spokesperson Ingrid Leary said: "The minister has admitted he has a smaller set of actions in his suicide prevention plan.
"The advice from officials shows that is a direct result of the constrained funding environment."
Leary said this made it clear that suicide prevention was "not a priority for this National government", despite "all the big talk".
She said that this, alongside workforce challenges, frontline cuts to mental health staff and cuts to community organisations delivering counselling, "paints a bleak picture" when it came to reducing New Zealand's suicide record.
In a statement received from Doocey, he said there was engagement from a wide range of agencies to develop the draft Suicide Prevention Plan.
"The actions in the draft action plan include activities that can be funded from agency baselines or 'baseline resources'", he said.
"This means that no new funding would need to be sought (e.g. through Budget processes)."
Doocey said the new action plan had a "more targeted and focused set of actions", compared to the 2019-2024 plan.
"The action plan does not represent all that government agencies will be doing to prevent suicide over this period", he said.
Funding will be confirmed once the plan has been finalised but approximately $18 million of Vote Health funding (the health system's main source of funding) goes specifically towards suicide prevention activities.
Life Matters manager Clare Curran said the draft plan had some "good aspirations", but she still had some apprehension.
"What I'm concerned about is what sits behind it in terms of programs and resourcing to actually deliver," she said.
"I'm concerned to hear about what has happened to the Suicide Prevention Office for instance, and where does it sit now as it's not a standalone entity anymore. What's it's brief, it's role and resourcing? How will it support the sector?"
She wanted to see evidence-based research and ensuring those voices with experience of suicidal distress have a platform.
Curran was hopeful Doocey would act with accountability in his role as mental health minister; something she saw was a positive leadership position to have in place.
New Zealand has a stubbornly high rate of suicide.
Every year, more than 550 people die of suspected suicide and the country continues to rank among the highest youth suicide rates among OECD countries.
Māori experience around 1.8 times the suicide rate experienced by non-Māori.
The new suicide prevention action plan is out to the public for feedback until 1 November.
Where to get help:
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What's Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)