Families of suicide victims are outraged they were excluded from a meeting yesterday to tackle the way suicide is reported in the news media, saying their views are being belittled and ignored.
The meeting of media representatives, mental health professionals and researchers discussed possible changes to the guidelines for reporting on suicide, following a call last year from Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean for greater debate on the issue.
Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne, who chaired the meeting, said through a spokesman that families of victims had a key contribution to make and their views would be heard later in the process.
But a group representing about 500 families affected by suicide was angry their views were not heard yesterday, despite an invitation last year from Judge MacLean to discuss changes to the guidelines.
Community Action on Suicide Prevention Education and Research spokeswoman Maria Bradshaw said the group wrote to Mr Dunne requesting an invitation to the meeting, but were told the meeting was solely for the media.
"I think most New Zealanders would be appalled at the way in which (Mr Dunne) ignores and belittles families bereaved by suicide," she said.
"Our families have suffered the ultimate tragedy as a result of the refusal of Peter Dunne and his colleagues to ensure suicide prevention in New Zealand is evidence based.
"We are angry that more families will share our suffering because of the minister's refusal to listen to the evidence that his policies promote, rather than reduce suicide."
Ms Bradshaw said it was important that the families of victims also had a say because they contributed a different view than media and health experts.
"As people more directly affected by this issue than anyone else, we bring a different perspective," she said.
"We also have experience of being criminalised for sharing the stories of the suicides of our family members in a bid to educate the community and prevent future suicides."
The meeting yesterday resolved to form a working group that would report back by the end of April, with the aim of putting any new guidelines in place this year.
A spokesman for Mr Dunne said today that the meeting was "just the starting point" and there would be broad-ranging consultation over the next few months.
"This will include those who have experienced suicide in their lives, and groups that represent them," the spokesman said.
"They have a key contribution to make, and they will be given that opportunity. It would not be a worthwhile consultation process without their views."
Judge MacLean was unable to attend yesterday's meeting and would be briefed and brought into the process.
In August he released a number of suicide statistics, including tables outlining what methods were used by people who took their own lives, and breakdowns of suicides by age groups and areas.
He said there were concerns news media reporting could cause copycat suicides but responsible reporting could potentially save lives.
Coroners are restricted by law in what information can be released, except name, age, occupation, and finding of self-inflicted death.
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