A Fijian psychologist is calling on people in Fiji to work together to tackle issues associated with mental health amid the covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing a prayer vigil to remember the victims of suicide in Suva, Dr Selina Kuruleca said people must assist one another and reach out to those struggling due to the pandemic.

The Health Ministry says about 90 Fijians have died from suicide this year while there have been 82 attempted suicides.

Dr Kuruleca, who is chair of the National Committee on Prevention of Suicide in Fiji, said suicides were responsible for the majority of deaths of younger Fijians.

“The highest number of deaths in young people or youths between the ages of 15 to 29 is deaths by suicide. These are preventable deaths. There are more deaths from suicides than there are from road accidents or drowning,” Dr Kuruleca said.

Dr Kuruleca urged community and church leaders to reach out to their members and help those suffering depression or other mental health-related issues.

Fiji marked International Suicide Prevention Day last week with September named the country’s Mental Health month.

Traumatic for those left behind
Last week’s vigil was organised by Lifeline and supported by Psychiatric Survivors Association, Youth Champs for Mental Health and the Fiji Council of Social Services.

Speaking at the vigil, Dr Kuruleca said death from suicide was traumatic for all those left behind and it should never be an option.

She encouraged those present at the event to support those families that had been impacted by the suicide of a loved one.

Dr Kuruleca urged people not to judge but show action that they cared for them.

“Make a commitment today to be persistent in your compassion, to be genuine in your advocacy and to be mindful of our realities,” she said.

“Everyone needs to work together – from Empower Pacific, Lifeline, youth champs for mental health, medical services pacific, women’s crisis centre, women’s rights movement, the LGBTQI community and of course, our faith-based organisations.

“We all have a part to play and we must play it.”

The theme of the Mental Health Month is Working Together, she said.

• Fijians who need help can call the 24-hour child helpline on 1325, domestic violence on 1560, Lifeline on 132454 and Empower Pacific on 7765626 if they need counselling or want to talk to a counsellor.

This article is republished by the Pacific Media Centre under a partnership agreement with RNZ.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

By RNZ Pacific

The Australian election result has precipitated a wave of suicide attempts among Manus Island refugees that the government can no longer ignore, warns a refugee advocate.

The Liberal Party-led Coalition was returned to power on Saturday. It defeated the Labor Party, which had promised to expedite the resettlement of about 900 refugees who have been detained by Australia without trial on Papua New Guinea’s Manus and Nauru for six years.

The advocate, Ian Rintoul, said yesterday that seven refugees had attempted suicide since Saturday.

READ MORE: Suicidal thoughts on the rise in Australia’s refugee detention centres

“It has been building for six years, but the weekend’s election result has precipitated a crisis that the government cannot afford to ignore,” Rintoul said.

“Offshore detention is slowing strangling the life out of its victims.”

Rintoul circulated a “heartbreaking” suicide note written by a 31-year-old Sudanese refugee, who attempted to hang himself on Tuesday morning.

“I can’t fight any longer, everythings have gone from me, my lovely youth, and age, and love and happiness and I became broken, worthless and useless,” it said.

Two other refugees were in Lorengau hospital on Tuesday after suicide attempts, another was discharged that morning while two others were in one of three refugee detention centres on the island, Rintoul said.

Two other men, who had attempted to set fire to themselves on Sunday, had been moved from police cells to a low security compound, he said.

“The government has no resettlement arrangements for those still left on Manus and Nauru. Hundreds remain in limbo, and all hope is draining away.”

Where to get help
These are services across the Pacific for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.

Tonga:
Lifeline: 23000 or 25144

Fiji:
Lifeline: 667 0565

Papua New Guinea:
Lifeline: Port Moresby 326 0011

Samoa:
Samoa Lifeline: 800-5433

New Zealand:
Lifeline: 0800 543 354

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)

Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)

Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz

What’s Up: online chat (7pm-10pm) or 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 children’s helpline (1pm-10pm weekdays, 3pm-10pm weekends)

Kidsline (ages 5-18): 0800 543 754 (24/7)

Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254

Healthline: 0800 611 116

Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

• This article is published under the Pacific Media Centre’s content partnership with Radio New Zealand.
• More refugee stories

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz