Joseph Boden: Otago University professor of psychological medicine responds to Mike King's claims about alcohol

A professor of psychological medicine says mental health advocates shouldn't spout misinformation about alcohol. 

I Am Hope and Gumboot Friday campaigner Mike King yesterday told Newstalk ZB alcohol could be a solution for people with mental health issues. 

Labour has called on the Government to review its $24 million funding for his charity, which delivers youth counselling. 

Otago University's Joseph Boden says although alcohol can temporarily help people think about fewer problems, it's far from a fix. 

"The difficulty is - it is actually a nervous system depressant. So when misused, it can increase suicide risk."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Together do for cel now.

Speaker 2 (00:02):
Yesterday, Mike King made this comment on our show about
alcohol and it's linked to mental health.

Speaker 3 (00:07):
Alcohol is not a problem for people with mental health issues.
It's actually the solution to our problem. It stops those thoughts.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Mike is standing by that comment. Today, labor has reacted badly,
calling for the funding for gun Boot Friday to pause.
Professor Joe Boden is from the University of Otago's Department
of Psychological Medicine.

Speaker 1 (00:27):
Hey, Joe, Hi, how are you.

Speaker 4 (00:28):
I'm very well? Thank you.

Speaker 2 (00:29):
Now, I mean, obviously that statement is factually incorrect, right
because alcohol is a problem for people with mental health issues,
isn't it?

Speaker 1 (00:35):
It absolutely is? There Really research shows very strong linkages between,
for example, alcohol and major depression and alcohol and suicide risk.

Speaker 2 (00:47):
Has he got a point when he says, though, that
for some people it provides a form of escape from
the thoughts that they're having.

Speaker 1 (00:55):
I think there's some evidence that suggests that one of
the things that alcohol helps with is this idea of
cognitive narrowing that it is that makes you sort of
think about lettings. So in a sense, it might work temporarily.
The difficulty is is that is actually a depressant. It's
a nervous system depressant, and so it is actually likely

(01:18):
to cause feelings of depression and low low mood and
those sorts of things. So really any sort of temporary
benefit is offset by the adverse effects.

Speaker 4 (01:30):
Do you agree with Labor that he should lose his funding?

Speaker 1 (01:34):
Look, I'm not the person who decides who decides these things,
but it's to me it's a it's not a very
good look for the for the spokesperson for this particular
for this particular endeavor to be you know, spouting misinformation.

Speaker 4 (01:48):
Yeah, are you cross about it?

Speaker 1 (01:53):
No? More trust than I am about a lot of things.

Speaker 2 (01:56):
Because the reason I asked that question is because I mean, look,
this is his opinion, and I get that, you know,
from my perspective, from your perspective, it is not factually
correct in its totality. But I don't really understand why
everybody's so cross about it. That's why I'm asking you
if you'll cross about it.

Speaker 1 (02:12):
Well, look, we're talking about something that a substance that,
when misused, it can very well increase suicide risks. So
really it's at cross purposes to what he is endeavoring
to be on about it to reduce suicide, that reduce
the suicide right, And in fact, one of the things
that would really be particularly helpful in reducing the suicide

(02:34):
of the rate is reducing the overall level of alcohol
consumption and the population. So I think that it is
an irresponsible kind of comment to make in this particular context.

Speaker 4 (02:47):
Joe, it's good to talk to you. Thanks very much
for your expertise.

Speaker 2 (02:49):
It's Professor Joe Boden, University of Otiger, Department of Psychological Medicine.

Speaker 4 (02:54):
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