12 Comments
Oct 31Liked by The Spinoff

Some would say-Mike has opened up a "can of worms". Rather- let's say he has opened up discussion and debate. I lost two uncles to suicide, and a Vicar. Alcohol was a factor in all three.

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Yes but the question is: were they drinking ENOUGH to really help? Or at least that’s what King apparently believes.

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My best friends in the 70's were smack addicts. Heroin. I was told that is the drug was unadulterated it was safer than alcohol. Without going into an endless story- I tried and discovered things about sources of trauma, and authentic ways of actually relieving emotional and physical pain.

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author

Thank you for sharing :)

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How bankrupt has New Zealand become? Mike King has absolutely no academic, health, or councelling credentials to find himself as a spokesperson for such a serious issue, yet here we are! A man who has been brave enough to admit to suffering from the black dog deserves all the help he can get in his struggle towards wellness. However, anyone who believes the solution to mental health awareness is to put the poacher in charge of the hen house is out of their mind! The myth surrounding King's contribution to solving issues ofnmental illness needs to be challenged and his organisation de-funded immediately. We need fewer ignorant people impacting the lives of the vulnerable, not more!

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Another article which is mind provoking, from a professional in the field - https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/31-10-2024/the-bleak-reality-of-working-in-mental-health-when-you-dont-have-mike-kings-funding

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Reading this is sooooo depressing. There is no accountability in NZ only the special handshake between followers of the CoC. To have Mike King effectively as the arbitor of how mental health money is distributed makes a mockery of all thise other well performing councelling centre's that are now being systematically de-funded. How have we come to this? Charlatans every which way one turns!

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“Will it change anything?”

…No?

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Scene: Cabinet meeting

Doocey: "We've had new evidence come to light presented by numerous experts challenging our funding decisions for support for Kiwis' mental health. I'm suggesting we pause and reconsider our approach, looking at how we could use the available funds more effectively."

Luxon: "Is this information research-backed evidence from respected professionals is it just opinionated rants from lefty academics?"

Doocey: "It comes from well-respected researchers - we should probably listen to what they have to say..."

Bishop: "WTF? We don't listen to experts! What do our lobby groups say?"

Doocey: "I'm not sure-"

Luxon: "Right. Easy decision: ignore the experts - we'll do the opposite! No point changing our approach one year in, right team?"

Seymour: "Next on the agenda: new fines for schools who teach kids te reo..."

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Scarey but all too true!

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Nov 1·edited Nov 1

I sit here reading this with tears running down my face. It's my lunch break and I need to pull myself together before going back to teaching our mokopuna.

I can not believe that the person who is spokes person for mental health and the face of Gumboot Friday has publicly said alcohol has save lives of people with mental health.

Today our kindergarten whānau donated money to Gumboot Friday. Kaiako and mokopuna proudly come to Kindy wearing the kamaputu in support of this cause. Now all I want to do is give the money back to everyone. But I won't as Mike King is only the face.

As a broken mum who walks alongside one if my own who struggles with mental health issues, distress and suicidal thoughts on a daily bases I can almost not contain my anger that MK suggests alcohol can help.

When my love one drinks to quieten the voices they are not quietened but they start screaming loudly in his head. All aspects of his well being are diminish. Suicidal thoughts increase and anger is the main coping emotion to deal with the effects of alcohol in his system.

F... You MK . I hope that our young people don't read his stupid comments.

And the other part of the story of decreasing the police call outs for mental health issues cuts me to the core. 2 times in the last two weeks our whānau has called Mental Health Crisis Team to be told they have no one available to help and if anyone is in immediate danger ring the police. Ring the police and they say ring the Mental Health Crisis Team. Back and forwards ringing for help while we are beside ourselves with fear that our loved one will kill himself or hurt someone else. Trauma!!!!!!

The third time the police were call because there was an immediate threat to life, police responded and our love one was taken to hospital. 2 hours later he was back with us and the cycle continues.

Our systems are so broken. We need mental health advocates who knows what they are talking about not someone who thinks they can dish out advise that is BS.

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About Police withdrawing from mental health call outs, the impact is likely to be felt by our already stretched ambulance services

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