Mike King's Resignation From Suicide Prevention Panel 'Really Scary' Says Victim's Mum: 'I Know Mike Has Tried Really Hard'
The mother of Nicky Stevens who was found dead after walking away from Waikato Hospital's mental health unit says it's "really scary" that Mike King has resigned from the Government's suicide prevention panel.
Mr King has been on the Ministry of Health panel since 2015. It was established to stop New Zealanders like 21-year-old Nicky Stevens from taking their life.
Steven's mother, Jane Stevens, says it should be the Minister of Health and mental health officials who should be resigning.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/video-mike-kings-resignation...
How a Stranger's Simple Words Saved a Suicidal Man
Neil Laybourn was crossing Waterloo Bridge by foot on his way to work, his first week back after the Christmas holidays, when he saw a lone man about his age in a T-shirt sitting on the bridge's edge. Other Londoners, bundled in their winter coats, seemed to be passing by without notice, but Laybourn felt pulled to check to see if the man was okay.
"Hey, why are you sitting here by yourself?" Laybourn said he gently asked.
"I don't want to be here anymore," Benjamin told him.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=118...
Former All Black Zac Guildford: It's Good to Talk About Mental Health
Zac Guilford, the 10 test former All Black, who spent much of his career with his face plastered across newspapers opens up about his issues with alcoholism and mental health.
Mr Guildford said he had no one to talk to when he was juggling playing professional sport and deteriorating mental health.
"Life isn't easy sometimes, and it's good to have someone there to talk to, who listens and doesn't judge.
"We portray rugby players as people who don't have problems and don't talk about it.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11853963
Canterbury Families Struggling as Children Wait Months for Mental Health Help
Canterbury children's mental health is deteriorating while they wait for months to access help, advocates say.
Recent Government figures show more than 450 children aged under 12 waited longer than three weeks for a first mental health appointment in Canterbury last year – equating to almost 60 per cent of those seeking help.
This was an increase on the previous year's figures.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/92425319/Canterbury-childrens-men...
Kyle MacDonald: Should We Abandon Compulsory Mental Health Treatment?
I don’t like the idea of compelling anyone into treatment, and yet I’ve seen lives saved by detaining people against their will.
"Sectioning" is a term used by mental health workers as short hand for having someone assessed and treated under the "Compulsory Assessment and Treatment Act (1992)." - You can see why they shorten it.
The act allows doctors and certain nurses ("D.A.O's" or Duly Authorised Officers) to hold someone in a psychiatric hospital, due to concerns about them having a "mental disorder" of such a degree that it poses a "serious danger" to the health or safety of self or others or '"seriously diminished capacity" for self-care.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=118...
NZ Still a Long Way Behind Appropriate Mental Health Funding
Ali Mau speaks to registered psychologist and commentator Kyle MacDonald to get his thoughts on the announcement today from the Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman that new funding for mental health and addiction services would be included in this year's budget as part of a $321 million social investment package unveiled this week.
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/NZ-still-a-long-way-behind-appropriate-mental...
What I Learnt From Watching 13 Reasons Why With My Teenage Son
We could have tried to ban our children from watching 13 Reasons Why; we could have joined the outrage.
Mental health professionals offer good reasons not to watch the teen suicide TV series 13 Reasons Why. They argue it sensationalises suicide and glamourises the central character, 17-year-old Hannah Baker. The show could disturb vulnerable teenagers, they argue. The term "suicide contagion" pops up. Instead we have tried to turn the show into an educational tool and conversation starter.
Dear Suicidal Me...: Poignant Video Shows People Reading out Their Own Suicide Notes to Prove There IS a way Back From Utter Despair
Two friends have released a heart-wrenching video of people reading their own suicide notes to try and offer hope to anyone battling their own demons.
Genevieve Mora and Jazz Thornton established Voices of Hope to highlight issues around suicide, with the strong message 'Living is better'.
The idea for the video came because I wanted to show hope in a way that hasn't been shown before,' Ms Thornton told Daily Mail.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4434404/Heartbreaking-video-reve...
Perpetrators or Patients?
More than 90 percent of prison inmates have a diagnosis of mental health or substance abuse disorder - so is New Zealand doing enough to divert these people away from jail?
Mike Wesley-Smith investigates, in association with the Mental Health Foundation.
Watch the video for the full report:
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/shows/2017/04/perpetrators-or-patients.html
The Marathon Men: Suicidal Man Will Run Alongside Stranger Who Talked Him Down From a Bridge
Jonny Benjamin and Neil Laybourn met for the first time on Waterloo Bridge: the former in such despair he was ready to jump, and the latter the unexpected good Samaritan who intervened.
With a promise that “things can get better” and an invitation for coffee, Neil successfully talked Jonny back to safety before they went their separate ways.
Eight years later, thanks to a nationwide social media campaign to “Find Mike” - Jonny’s nickname for the man who saved his life - the pair were reunited in an extraordinary moment in the public eye.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/22/marathon-men-suicidal-man-wil...
