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Suicide Prevention and Social Capital
A Samoan perspective
Rochelle R Stewart-Withers
School of People, Environment and Planning, Massey University, New Zealand
Anthony (Tony) P O'Brien
Southern Cross University; Nursing Programs, School of Nursing and Health Care Practices, Port Macquarie Base Hospital, NSW; Coffs Harbour Education Campus (CHEC), NSW
Abstract
This paper draws on the example of Samoa to argue that Western models of health promotion and suicide prevention, especially those which draw on conventional understandings of social capital, are not appropriate for non-Western communities, for they are generally not sensitive to cultural beliefs, values and rituals.
As such, the value of homogenously promoting social capital as an adjunct to suicide prevention strategies needs to be questioned.
Suicide prevention and resilience strategies must be culturally relevant and developed 'by the people for the people', to address the nature of the suicide problem in Samoa.
Keywords
New Zealand Maori, Samoa, social capital, sociology, suicide prevention, suicide resilience
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