Abstract:
Suicide is complex. There is no single explanation as to why people die by suicide. Examining ways to alleviate this phenomenon is something I have been deeply committed to and during this time, it has become apparent, as with other scholars before me—Pacific suicides must be addressed differently. Whether the approach is from a Pacific Island-born, multi-ethnic, or New Zealand-born view, for those of us that acknowledge our Pacific heritage, it is clear that suicide prevention must be confronted in a way that makes sense to us, and certainly not confined by mainstream ideals. This discussion examines the need to openly talk about suicide within our Pacific communities by drawing on current literature and relevant findings from the ‘Suicide and Samoans: The Journey towards Prevention’ study. I posit without any uncertainty that—Suicide is preventable.
