It is unclear the circumstances surrounding the disbandment of the Faataua Le Ola Society but suicide is prevalent which is the very issue it aimed to address.
For the past 12 months, there haven’t been any preventative announcements or advertising campaigns from the society for suicide prevention, despite this being its purpose since its founding in 2000 and its official recognition in Samoa in 2002.
Our efforts to speak with the Director of the Faataua Le Ola, Papalii Carol Ah Chong, were unsuccessful, but Samoa Newshub questioned the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Labour, Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling, regarding the Ministry’s announcement comfirming the organisation closure.
“The Advisory Committee of the Faataua Le Ola submitted a request, urging the complete removal of the organisation from the list of approved societies in Samoa, as mandated by the law regulating societies in Samoa in 1952.”
For at least twenty years, the Faataua Le Ola has implemented a comprehensive awareness and investigative programs, covering outreach, support, and strategies for suicide prevention, embodying values deeply rooted in the Christian community.
According to recent reports from the Faataua Le Ola, from 2015 to 2018, 84 individuals committed suicide, with the majority being men.
Just last week, a 26-year-old male from Salafai became the latest victim of suicide.
Story in Samoan
Ua anoanoa’i mataupu tau pule i le soifua, ae tapunia loa ma le Faataua Le Ola
E leo manino mafuaaga o le faafuasei ai ona faataape le Faalapotopotoga o le Faataua le Ola, ae oloo sasao fa’aafi pea le faafitauli ua loa tausaga o ia taumafai e foia.
Ua silia ma le 12 masina e le’o toe vaaia pe faalogologoina ni faamaite ma faapisapisa a le Sosaiete, e tetee atu ai i le pule i le ola, e pei o le mafuaaga tonu lea na faavaeina mai ai i le tausaga e 2000, ma avea ai loa ma Sosaiete aloa’ia i Samoa i le 2002.
E lei manuia a tatou taumafaiga i se faatalanoga ma le Faatonu o le Faataua le Ola ia Papalii Carol Ah Chong, ae na fesiligia e le Samoa News Hub le Ofisa Sili o le Matagaluega o Pisinisi, Alamanuia ma Leipa ia Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling, e tusa ma le faalauiloa ai e le Matagaluega o le tapunia tumau ai o le Faalapotopotoga.
“Na tusi talosaga mai le Komiti Faafoe a le Faataua Le Ola, ina ia tuu ese aloaia loa le Faalapotopotoga mai i le li’o o Faalapotopotoga aloaia i Samoa, o lea na faatino ai loa e tusa ma le tulafono e limataitaina ai faalapotopotoga i Samoa 1952.”
Ua silia i le luasefulu tausaga o faatautaia e le Faalapotopotoga polokalame faalauiloa ma suesuega, e auga i le afuaga, aafiaga, ma se fofo mo le faafitauli o le pule i le soifua, e leo se aga e ao ona vaaia i se atunuu kerisiano.
I faamaumauga lata mai a le Faalapotopotoga, na maua ai mai ile 2015-2018, e 84 i latou na faamauina le pule I le soifua, ma o le toatele o le itupa o alii.
O le faaiuga o le vaiaso ua mavae na maliu ai foi se alii 26 tausaga le matua mai Salafai, oloo masalomia na pule i lona lava soifua.
