Reflection
by Lynley Tulloch
World mental health day was on the 10th October, 2019. Personally I wondered how I should mark this day, and I rather inadvertently settled on having a wonderful day. It felt good to be alive. For I’ve known the black dog, and when he is absent I love life with a joy that is unparalleled. On such days, the black dog is a wee pup, harmless and playful with no bark and no bite.
But it hasn’t always been like that. The black dog has often been my faithful companion, snoozing beside me, guarding me, nipping my heels and insisting that she be seen. And in this respect I share much in common with other New Zealanders.
New Zealand does not stack up well in mental health statistics. A government inquiry in 2018 into mental health and addiction in New Zealand revealed some sobering statistics. One in five New Zealanders are experiencing mental health or addiction issues at any one time. These include the 20,000 people who attempt to take their own lives every year. Up to 80% of the population will have a mental health of addiction issue during their life.
The recommendation for support services included more access and choice. There was also a plea to treat addictions as health issues and a focus on building stronger communities. These are all sound ideas, and yet a year later it does not look like things are improving.
In the year to June 30, 2019 already 685 people had taken their lives. This was a 2.5 increase on the previous year. Behind the statistics are real people, real lives, and real loss.
Suicide. This single word has the power to stand alone. For there is no lonelier feeling that the pain of wanting to die. And there is no loss so great as that of ourselves and our hope. Except the loss of losing a loved one to suicide.
Suicide should not be a taboo subject, but a sensitive one that needs to be talked about. We should take that suicide word right out in the open and pay attention to it. Lives depend on it.
The best thing that can be done on World Mental Health Day is a commitment to the next 364 days where you can be kind. Kind to yourself and kind to others. We are not going to be able to address mental health issues in one day, but we can be present in all the 365 days of the year. We can acknowledge that the human condition is a fragile and nuanced one. Kindfulness is a state of being that while alone will not solve the world’s problems, is nonetheless important in the bigger picture.
The government has an important role here too. Putting money into support services , building strong communities and ensuring access to having basic needs met are significant measures. Bullying needs to be tackled in all its forms, and addictions should be treated and not punished.
But for today, for this moment, do something kind for someone, somewhere. Their life may depend on it.
But it hasn’t always been like that. The black dog has often been my faithful companion, snoozing beside me, guarding me, nipping my heels and insisting that she be seen. And in this respect I share much in common with other New Zealanders.
New Zealand does not stack up well in mental health statistics. A government inquiry in 2018 into mental health and addiction in New Zealand revealed some sobering statistics. One in five New Zealanders are experiencing mental health or addiction issues at any one time. These include the 20,000 people who attempt to take their own lives every year. Up to 80% of the population will have a mental health of addiction issue during their life.
The recommendation for support services included more access and choice. There was also a plea to treat addictions as health issues and a focus on building stronger communities. These are all sound ideas, and yet a year later it does not look like things are improving.
In the year to June 30, 2019 already 685 people had taken their lives. This was a 2.5 increase on the previous year. Behind the statistics are real people, real lives, and real loss.
Suicide. This single word has the power to stand alone. For there is no lonelier feeling that the pain of wanting to die. And there is no loss so great as that of ourselves and our hope. Except the loss of losing a loved one to suicide.
Suicide should not be a taboo subject, but a sensitive one that needs to be talked about. We should take that suicide word right out in the open and pay attention to it. Lives depend on it.
The best thing that can be done on World Mental Health Day is a commitment to the next 364 days where you can be kind. Kind to yourself and kind to others. We are not going to be able to address mental health issues in one day, but we can be present in all the 365 days of the year. We can acknowledge that the human condition is a fragile and nuanced one. Kindfulness is a state of being that while alone will not solve the world’s problems, is nonetheless important in the bigger picture.
The government has an important role here too. Putting money into support services , building strong communities and ensuring access to having basic needs met are significant measures. Bullying needs to be tackled in all its forms, and addictions should be treated and not punished.
But for today, for this moment, do something kind for someone, somewhere. Their life may depend on it.