Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people globally, and Indigenous populations experience higher suicide rates than non-Indigenous populations. In many jurisdictions, suspected suicides are investigated through coronial services established by governments as part of colonisation, and these services often fail to foster positive engagement with Indigenous families. This research took place in Aotearoa New Zealand and was guided by a Kaupapa Māori framework. It explored coroners’ experiences and views of working with bereaved whānau (Māori families) during investigations of suspected rangatahi (young Māori) suicides. Eleven coroners and one associate coroner (4 male, 8 female) participated in in-depth interviews, which were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. We undertook a reflexive thematic analysis of the transcripts and developed three themes that captured coroners’ experiences, namely: (1) systemic issues in family exclusion from coronial processes; (2) whānau factors and explanations for why whānau might not engage with coronial processes; and (3) ways in which coroners facilitated whānau engagement through making use of leeway in the system. Coroners highlighted a number of barriers to engagement that could be addressed within the system, including poor communication, lengthy delays, lack of resourcing, and lack of time. However, they also noted that much broader structural change was required to enable whānau to trust, and to feel valued and respected, within coronial investigations. Such findings may help inform the development of more inclusive coronial systems that engage respectfully with whānau, and in turn, could contribute to more effective suicide prevention and postvention initiatives.
Aspin et al. (Mon,) studied this question.