Our Pasifika media can play a key role in leading safe messaging in reporting suicide to our Pasifika communities. Suicide prevention is complex and challenging, and no single initiative or organisation can prevent suicide on its own. That’s why these Pasifika media guidelines for reporting suicide are part of Le Va’s multi-faceted national Pasifika suicide prevention programme, called FLO: Pasifika for Life. It’s also why we worked with 23 Pasifika media organisations, empowering them to lead their own solutions and address suicide reporting with confidence, cultural competency, and sensitivity. During the process, these volunteer Pasifika media also upskilled, and are now more equipped to prevent suicide in their own families and communities. In partnership with Pasifika media, we aim to move the conversation from a reactive narrative centered on the loss of life, to an empowered narrative focussed on hope and resiliency. This is a rare chance to ignite communities and create change alongside best practice journalism. These guidelines and workshops mark the start of an ongoing dialogue of mutual support with our Pasifika media industry
to contribute to preventing suicide in our communities.