Three years on from the Canterbury earthquake of September 4, 2010, Rural Women New Zealand said government support services and community groups must continue to focus on those victims who were still suffering disruption, stress and heartache.
''It is no longer front-page news outside Canterbury, but many Cantabrians are still struggling to cope on a daily basis,'' Rural Women NZ Canterbury national councillor Kerry Maw said.
''Just recently we heard of a significant spike in North Canterbury's suicide rate in 2012, with a further increase in numbers this year.''
While no direct connection had been found between the quakes and suicides, the stresses experienced by ''quake migrants'' from Christchurch's eastern suburbs who shifted to North Canterbury and economic pressures in the farming community were likely to be significant factors.
Mrs Maw said there was a need to break the ''code of silence'' around suicide, so agencies could gather information to enable them to develop suitable programmes to reduce suicide in the future.
She said there was some positive news in the recent Coroners' statistics, including a decrease in suicides in Christchurch itself, as well as among young people and Maori.
''While it is encouraging to see that there are generally improved statistics around suicide, the upward trend for North Canterbury and the elderly indicates more community support and intervention is required.''
In the case of rural elderly, access to health services, transport and housing could be challenging.
Many may also be dealing with the recent death of a spouse, loneliness and loss of identity or a sense of having no meaningful role to play in society.
''It is important people know where they can go for help, such as the free services provided for earthquake recovery by Relationship Services,'' Mrs Maw said.
''And as part of a caring community, we all need to be aware of elderly living in our midst, and the small things we can all do to help. People can make a real difference.''
Following the Canterbury earthquakes, Rural Women members donated funds to enable 80 rural people to receive counselling through Pegasus health.
Realising post-traumatic stress could emerge months or even years after a traumatic experience, Rural Women would be relaunching its fundraising drive at its AGM in November for Cantabrians and others suffering post-traumatic stress, with the aim of delivering further counselling services.
- by David Hill