Giving hope to those who have none
The ‘‘onus is not on the person struggling’’ to reach out but for those able to step towards them, a suicide prevention advocate says.
The Hope Walk and Hope Ride community events for walkers and motorcyclists were held yesterday to raise funds for free counselling for young people and to help raise awareness of suicide.
Hope Walk guest speaker I am Hope youth programme development manager Tai Tupou told Stuff there were more than 175 deaths by suicide in 2018/2019 in the under 24 age bracket. Of those 117 were male and 58 female.
‘‘We (New Zealanders) try to make it a race or poverty thing, but it’s a New Zealand thing,’’ he said. Tupou said of all 654 deaths by suicide from June 2019 to June 2020, 471 (70 per cent) were male, with many related to a disconnected father-son relationships.
‘‘The main drivers are boys growing up (being taught) to only speak when spoken to and men being told their role in society is to provide and protect and if they can’t do that what good are they?’’
He said if men lost their jobs and could not provide they felt useless and could spiral out of control as they felt they did not have a purpose.
‘‘The onus is not on the person struggling, but those in a good place to step forward and visit unannounced. Don’t say you are too busy for a coffee,’’ Tupou said.
Michelle Cogger whose son Ryan Weaver-Cogger died by suicide organised the fourth annual Hope Walk, and partnered with the Hope Ride. The 3.2 kilometre walk from Centennial Park to Caroline Bay Soundshell saw a sea of about 100 walkers – with many carrying yellow balloons, the international colour for suicide awareness. Once they arrived at their destination, the Te Aitarakihi Kapa Haka group performed.
Brooke Hampton, 22, has had two people close to her attempt suicide in the past six years and that is why she participated in the Hope Walk.
‘‘Out there people put on a happy face when they are dealing with so much that goes unnoticed. It’s our job to say we are here for you,’’ Hampton said.
Three years ago the Tribal Nations Motorcycle Club invited riders to participate in the Hope Walk and last year started the first Hope Ride with 30 motorcyclists taking part.
This year more than 30 riders rode from Caroline Bay Soundshell on back roads to Fairlie stopping at AMPSS 101 (Addictions, Mental Health Peer Support Services) in Church St on the way back, about a 250km trip.
Proceeds from the entry fee of $20 per rider and gold coin donations from the walkers will be used towards counselling services in Timaru.