I thought I’d put this up here because it’s become a big event and men’s representative Jim Bagnall is presenting something special about fathers plight and suicide and by the looks of it Murray will be video taping the event. Also, I chased up a teenager who left a comment on a post by Mike in May 2008 and then met up with the mother the article was about. She [Maria Bradshaw] is remarkable and already changes are taking place in New Zealand regarding suicide awareness.

We’d love for men and women who read this site to come along and support as well as learn some.

ORGANISATIONS are banding together in the battle against suicide, which claims more Kiwi lives per year than the road toll and you are invited to come listen to speakers sensitive to the subject and the latest unfortunate events in Papakura.

Debbie Swanwick, of the Auckland Single Parents Trust, says East Auckland has the highest rate of suicide of men aged 40-60 in the western world.

Suicide prevention group Casper and the trust are holding a public meeting to share personal stories, current practices and other options to try reduce the number of people who take their own lives.

The meeting will take place on Sunday, December 5, from 3-6pm at the Senior Citizens Hall, 8 East Street, Papakura.

Casper, which stands for Community Action on Suicide Prevention Education and Research, was co-founded by Maria Bradshaw, who has been campaigning for suicide awareness and change since the death of her son, Toran Henry, at the age of 17 in 2008.

Jim Bagnall, of Project Reunion, who has worked with more than 10,000 fathers and mothers dealing with separations over the past 12 years, will present “The Black Hole”, a place people reach prior to taking their own lives. “People naturally revert to their instinctual level where self harm or harm to others can take place”, he says. “The system to some degree is not coping and experiences can fill in the gaps”.

Other speakers include representatives of Counties Manukau Mental Health and a secondary school student who has experienced depression.

The meeting will coincide with the opening of the South Auckland division of Auckland Single Parents Trust, and will start with a performance by dance group The Geeks.
For enquiries, email [email protected]