Nicky Taiaroa Macpherson Stevens took his own life recently. An article in Te Karaka explores the issues surrounding his death and an appeal to improve services for young people.
His family has called for spiritually-based, Māori-focused treatment.
They feel that breaking the silence and shame associated with suicide, in particular the over-representation of Māori in suicide statistics, is one way they can honour their son.
Nicky's mother said: “I feel completely failed by the Kaupapa Māori community mental health service that we had, that turned out to be a shadow of a mainstream service. It was underfunded and didn’t work in a culturally appropriate way because of structures and not having people with the skills to do it.”
She says says she would like to see a mandated whānau-centred approach to mental healthcare, which includes the wider whānau.
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