Today is world Suicide Prevention Day. 

Each year on this day, we remember the devastating impacts of suicide and how important it is to work together to support each other. Suicide has a ripple effect that impacts on families, friends, colleagues and the whole community.

For more information on suicide prevention and how you can make a difference in your community, go to the Mental Health Foundation website: https://mentalhealth.org.nz/suicide-prevention

There is an emerging new FREE service called Aoake te Rā available in our community for people bereaved by suicide. Aoake te Rā means ‘a new sun rises’ – the emerging light being a symbol of hope as people adapt to their loss. 

Attached is a flyer that provides some information about the service and further information can be found here: www.aoaketera.org.nz. 

Verona is one of the providers of this service and she works Monday-Friday 9.30am-2.30pm at the Picton Centre and will be available to see clients face to face when we are in level 2. 

Other providers can be found on the website under the providers tab – ‘Find a provider’.

Here are the key things to know:

The service is:

• a free brief therapeutic service with approximately four hours support per person 
• available to all ages and at any stage after bereavement
• available for individuals, couples, whānau groups, or a combination 
• able to be delivered face to face, online or via phone. 

The service is funded by the Ministry of Health and came out of the Mental Health Inquiry and the Suicide Prevention Action Plan.

Any further questions see www.aoaketera.org.nz for more information.