The New Zealand Islamic Information Centre (NZIIC), an affiliation of Masjid-at-Taqwa based in Papatoetoe, is working toward creating a strong awareness on suicide prevention among the teens and the youth.
Saving Lives Campaign or Suicide Prevention Awareness Campaign was started by NZIIC headed by Dr Muhammad Anwar Sahib, a prominent Islamic scholar who has been reaching out to the local community to help educate and address the subject of suicide and depression.
“It is no secret that New Zealand has one of the highest suicide rates in the world in the teenage category, which is twice as many as in the US and four times more than Britain. In 2015 Ministry of Health reported 527 people committed suicide in New Zealand and that is around 10 in a week. Recent reports also indicate that these numbers are not at all decreasing,” the spokesperson from NZIIC told The Indian Weekender.
Dr Anwar has been running his own workshops in the local communities in spreading the word and educating the people to get professional help. His method also includes calling people closer to the one Almighty God and seeking His guidance.
While there have been acknowledgements from both the Ministry of Health and Counties Manukau Police, broader communities have widely appreciated this initiative. Along with printed materials supplied by the Ministry of Health, NZIIC also circulates its own brochure to help educate on the issue to help raise awareness to overcome it.
The Indian Weekender spoke to a representative of NZIIC involved in the Suicide Prevention Awareness Campaign to know more about their activities and reached in the community.
IWK: How often do you host such events?
NZIIC: Almost two years ago we ran a campaign on "Say No To Intoxicants" which was received positively by the broader community and we used the same method as Saving Lives Campaign. Ministry of Health has also supported us with free materials to distribute, and within with we circulate our own pamphlets too to help educate people to overcome the problem of drugs and alcohol. Our team has travelled as far as Queenstown for this workshop. Our last workshop was on Saturday, August 11 at Aotea Centre and we have the next workshop on Monday, September 10 at Masjid-at-Taqwa on 58 Grayson Avenue, Manukau that marks World Suicide Prevention Day.
IWK: What is the underlying message when approaching such a sensitive subject with the community?
NZIIC: Our methods are based on leading people to seek professional help and also calling people closer to the One Creator, The Almighty God. We believe firmly in medical help along with therapy and counselling, but we also believe that ultimately all help comes from the Almighty God. One of the reasons such problems are rising to its peak these days in our community is because people have lost connection with their Creator. Our message is clear, and we want to save people from self-destruction, from all sorts of harmful substances and psychological issues. Life is too precious to be destroyed.
IWK: What other means do you use to reach out to the community?
NZIIC: Our general method is going out on the streets and talking to people. Our volunteers go to the streets to help distribute information on the issue that we are addressing. We also use social media and put discussions, live posts and posters to connect and create more awareness amongst the youngsters.
IWK: How many people are involved and which places have you hosted this campaign in the last one year?
NZIIC: We have close to 20 volunteers including children and adults. Dr Anwar does most of the presentation in the workshops and volunteers help distribute pamphlets and raise awareness. We have hardly met anyone in the broader New Zealand community who has expressed negatively on what we have been doing. Even if people don't take our pamphlets, they always give us a positive gesture.
IWK: What are the other activities of the masjid for the women, youth, children and the elderly of the community?
NZIIC: Fortunately, Masjid At-Taqwa and NZIIC have been very active in its community. Currently, we run different programs to touch base with every age group in the community. We host women’s quiz, sisterhood programs, sisters educational program, sisters netball every week, gym everyday young men, soccer practice every Sunday, volleyball every Friday in summer. Regarding educational activities we host lectures every Thursday, interfaith dialogue every week, community-oriented project, Urdu lectures once a month, special academic courses, Arabic language courses, and kids educational program every day.
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