FIJIANS ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE AT SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY

08/09/2015

The Fijian Government is encouraging the public to show up in numbers this week in Suva to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services will organise a march to the Sukuna Park in Suva. At the park, feature displays and presentations will focus on suicide prevention measures taken by authorities. Agencies that offer counselling and mental health support will also be present to meet with the public and discuss the services they provide.

Commemorated annually across the world, World Suicide Prevention Day recognises the importance of a unified stand in combatting suicide.

The Ministry of Health said that in order to address suicide prevention in Fiji, a collective approach should be used.

The Minister for Health Hon. Jone Usamate said, “We must address the stigma relating to suicide. We must do this to prevent further tragedies.”

“In Fiji, we tend to shy away from discussing mental illness and it is almost a taboo subject”.

The march in Suva will begin at 9am from the Flea Market and will be coordinated by the Health Ministry and Lifeline Fiji, an agency that provides crisis and suicide prevention support.