90min south from central Auckland is the township of Waiuku, population 9860 with 20% Maori. There is one secondary school, one main medical centre and the Glenbrook steel mill is a significant employer. Sadly last financial year 1 July 2024-30 June 2025 there were seven suspected suicides from this population.
Contributory factors may have included the impact of the NZ cost of living crisis, "contagion" factors in a close knit community, pressure on the local community mental health team, uncertainty on the future of the steel mill and lack of support services.
Interventions have included Suicide Prevention training for specialist mental health staff and the local medical centre, and gatekeeper training for the community. There was also increased resource sharing and building of support networks culminating in a community leaders hui (meeting) where a number of local and national organisations showcased their services. There has been ongoing links between local support services and the wider region such as the re-establishment of a counsellors network, the South Auckland Mental Health Special Interest Group and Professional Development Learning opportunities for School guidance counsellors often facilitated by the Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator. Examples of improved linking include the HR manager of the steel mill attending the hui to learn about available resources, connecting local rugby clubs to NZRU national wellbeing programme and promoting what resources were available at the local marae, church and community centre.
Potential Learning have included the importance of relationship building and networking, the suicide prevention co-ordinator being the "glue" and connector rather than the person doing the interventions, and the need for multi-level interventions which are ongoing.
There have been no further suspected suicides in this area for the period 1 July 2025 -22 Sept 2025.