Coroner's plea to save young people's lives

STORY TO BE TOLD: Teremoana Jacobs died in October 2007 from pneumonia following a suicide attempt.

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A coroner is calling on government ministers to take action to stop vulnerable children and young people who have been in Child, Youth and Family care from committing suicide.

Seventeen to 30-year-olds formerly in CYF or mental health authorities' care should have access to a special fund of money and continued mentoring to cut suicide rates, coroner Ian Smith says.

His recommendations follow the death of 22-year-old Masterton woman Teremoana Jacobs. She died in October 2007 from pneumonia following a suicide attempt.

Ms Jacobs had been under Social Development Ministry guardianship for more than 16 years, from the time her mother died when she was three. Her father died when she was 16.

In his findings, Mr Smith said Ms Jacobs' tragic story was "all too familiar to me as coroner".

"Teremoana's life story should be told in some detail so that at least history can show what this young woman had to endure that may have led to her untimely death."

The young woman had experienced an unsettled upbringing, had to steal to pay for her lunch as a child, and suffered from depression.

She was shunted between six different households while under CYF guardianship.

Ms Jacobs made a suicide attempt about four years before CYF closed her file when she was 20, and another in the year her file was closed in 2006.

A reference by CYF said: "Teremoana turned 20 in September 2005 and this case needs closing."

Before the file was closed a social worker made regular contact with Ms Jacobs, helped her and her boyfriend move back into the home of a previous caregiver and provided advice on investment of her inheritance.

"It is clear that at some point in time Teremoana decided that she no longer wished to have CYF involved in her life and she disengaged from her social worker. She moved several times and her social worker was unable to trace her," Mr Smith's report said.

Nearly 500 people took their own lives during 2007, latest Health Ministry figures show. Suicide figures were unavailable yesterday for current or former CYF wards.

Mr Smith said young adults aged 20 to 30 were still very vulnerable. More support was needed for those formerly in state guardianship.

Addressing his recommendations to the ministers of social development and employment, youth affairs and health, Mr Smith said a fund could be made available to those in need to assist them through the difficult years.

"But the more important issue is to ensure that there is a rock of stability in these people's lives."

He suggested a mentoring programme with guidance from someone the troubled young people could relate to.

A spokesman for duty minister Nick Smith said the Government acknowledged the system needed improving but there were already measures available to help young people's transition from CYF care.

"The loss of any young life is one too many, but there is support available. We are doing more to help young people deal with what is obviously a very traumatic time."

A friend of Ms Jacobs welcomed the coroner's recommendations.

Jade Gerrard believed her friend's death was avoidable.

"It really sucks, and it shouldn't have happened. I definitely believe it would be better if there was some help out there for people [in Ms Jacobs' situation]."

Ms Gerrard, who had known Ms Jacobs for 12 years after they met at Petone Central School at age 10, hoped the Government would take heed of the recommendations.

- © Fairfax NZ News