A New Zealand-based Pasifika organisation says suicide prevention is one of the key issues facing Pacific communities.
Le Va has just hosted a two-day conference in Auckland to discuss Pacific-centric solutions to a range of issues, including suicide.
The chief executive of Le Va, Monique Faleafa, says there is a particularly high prevalence of suicide attempts in the rainbow Pasifika community, which includes lesbian, gay, transgender, intersexual and queer youth.
She says Le Va has launched a national suicide prevention programme for Pasifika and Maori in collaboration with a Maori health organisation.
"I think we will be able for the first time reach out to some of our most vulnerable people that are sometimes not in the position to reach out for themselves. For the first time we are giving a voice to suicide prevention for Pasifika."
Monique Faleafa, the chief executive of Le Va.
