Suicide prevention Twitter feed launched
MEDIA RELEASE
September 1, 2009
A new Twitter feed devoted to information on suicide prevention in New Zealand has been launched.
SPINZ (Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand) intends to use Twitter to make an important contribution towards improving distribution of research and information on suicide prevention activities.
"The huge increase in popularity of social networking sites like Twitter is rapidly changing the way we access information," says Merryn Statham, Director of SPINZ.
"SPINZ has access to a wealth of quality data. Social networking platforms give us a vital opportunity for disseminating this information to a large and diverse audience, on a timely and regular basis."
The Twitter feed has been launched in the run-up to the SPINZ biennial symposium on 10-11 September 10: Culture and Suicide Prevention in Aotearoa.
"Our programme reflects the huge amount of valuable work and research going on in the suicide prevention sector, and Twitter will allow us to draw attention to that for audiences that are unable to attend our symposium in person," Statham says.
In acknowledgment of the increasingly important role that Twitter is playing in breaking news coverage around the world, SPINZ will be providing regular updates via Twitter throughout its two-day symposium.
"Following the symposium, we will continue to use Twitter as part of our commitment to providing high quality information to promote safe and effective suicide prevention activities," Statham concludes.
The SPINZ Twitter feed can be found at www.twitter.com/suicidenz
For further inquiries, contact:
Chris Banks
Senior Communications Officer
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
09 300 7028 or 021 790 236
SPINZ Symposium: Culture and Suicide Prevention in Aotearoa
Registrations are still open for the SPINZ symposium, which will focus this year on culturally appropriate suicide prevention approaches, suicide rates, risk and protective factors among Māori, and safe practice in suicide prevention across cultures. Registration is free for media.
New Zealand Suicide Prevention Strategy 2006-16
Expanding the evidence about suicide rates, causes and effective interventions is one of seven goals in New Zealand's Suicide Prevention Strategy 2006-16. Two approaches in achieving this goal are improving the quality and timeliness of suicide data, and improving the dissemination of research and information.
Read more about the strategy
Safe Reporting Practice
There is evidence that some types of reporting of suicidal behaviour can result in an increase in suicides.
