June 9, 2024 • 9 mins
Men’s Health Week is set to run from June 10-16, encouraging men to get on top of their wellbeing – both physical and mental.
New Zealand still has one of the highest rates of youth suicide in the developed world, and many are suffering from some strain of mental distress.
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey joined the Weekend Collective to discuss.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talks,
I'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
What we often hear is men have it so easy.
What do they have to complain about? But as it
turns out quite a bit, because key we men are
three times more likely than women to die by self
harm and as we know, New Zealand is one of
the high rates of that with our youth in the
developed world, and many of us suffer from mental distress.
And by the way, because I mentioned these themes, if
(00:32):
you are listening to this interview and you think you
need some help or there's anything that comes to mind
that you really want to talk to someone, I always
give this, I guess reminded of people the fantastic one
seven three seven service. Please text or call it if
anything that we discuss around mental health has you thinking
about that, maybe you need some help, so please do that.
(00:52):
And as I say, this week marks the end of
Men's Health the start of Men's Health Week in New Zealand.
As men across New Zealand aim to get to their
top are their biggest and most important asset their physical
and mental health. To speak to us about us and
a few other things. As Minister for Mental Health and
it is Matt Douc. Good afternoon, Hi term happy Men's
(01:13):
health will Yes, yes, now you have been. You've been
quite open about your own mental health struggles. How has
your personal experience shaped your approach to your role as
Minister for Mental Health.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Well, the first thing I say, it's great to have
a week focused on the blokes. It's I think it's important.
And look, you know, I don't want to generalize because
everyone's experiences are different, but I just know for me,
what I experienced just raised my awareness. I was able,
and you know, it wasn't a linear approach. I had
ups and downs, but just over time I became more
(01:50):
aware of my own mental health and how I'm impacted
by it. And like I say, now, for me, it's
just a relationship I have with my mental health. Sometimes
it's not that good, sometimes it's good, and like any relationship,
you just need to work on it. So I think
any awareness are raising awareness raising event like Men's Health
(02:14):
Week is just brilliant to keep the conversation going.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
I guess it would be one of those portfolios we're
having a little empathy for people who need the services
of mental health does actually help doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
I mean for me, I had my own experiences and
that led me to work in the mental health field.
And when I decided to give politics a go, actually
realized that New Zealand was ready to have this wider conversation.
And I think it's a really exciting opportunity. All I've
done is got a job. Anyone can get a job.
But it's just you know, how I can maybe play
(02:49):
my part in the system to advocate for better mental health,
for maybe get men to talk about it a bit more.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
How short of the mark are we in having the
capacity to deal with our country's mental health issues.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Yeah, I think we've got to give ourselves some acknowledgement.
I think we've come a long way. I think as
a country we've really started to break down the stigma
and the barriers. And you think of like Sir John
Kerwin and Mike King and Jazz Thornton's and I think
we have come a long way. Surely we can do
a lot more. And you know, you have a young
(03:25):
generation now that's just so articulates in mental health. They've
got a huge vocabulary, they're more open about it, they
talk about a lot more. But you know, there's a
lot of people, probably my age and older, that never
had that. So we still need to fight hard to
make sure that people can feel comfortable opening up. And
I think the issue now in New Zealanders we've come
(03:47):
so far allowing people to be more open, but sadly
when they do take that leap of faith to reach out,
quite often that time he support's not there.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
The men still struggle more I don't. I mean, look,
I hate to generalize, but we do generalize when it
comes to genders. Do you think I think it's still
there's a perception and that men are that it's harder
to get in to talk about our mental health.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Yeah, I think widely that's true. I mean I still
hear stories out where I live here in North Canterbury.
Quite often it's the wife or the partner still ringing
up the GP to make an appointment. But you know,
we have done better and we can still continue to
do better. And I think the issue with men, and
it's going to take us while to break it sort
(04:31):
of that macho persona. And I think you know, we
internalize a lot and we're quite worried potentially what people
think of us if we show a bit of emotion
and vulnerability, but I think we're getting better at it.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Did you get what you need in the budget?
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah? I was quite happy to get the twenty four
million dollars for gun Boot Friday. That'll go a long
way to support young people, about fifteen thousand extra young
people who access timely support through that initiative, and also
a ten million dollar innovation fun that will help scale
up very innovative community services. I'm really keen to get
(05:11):
as much money as we can out of the beehive
to our grassroots organizations. I'm speaking opening the November conference
in christ Church on Friday. I mean, they just do
fantastic works and I just commend all our mngos who
are fighting the good fight.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
There was a bit of a conversation around how about
the twenty four million for Mike King's Gumboot Friday. I
actually think it's called I Am Hope. Isn't the actual
organization Gumbook Friday is the particular Okay, there was a
little bit of criticism, well maybe there was a bit
more than a little that it was sort of dealt
out without much sort of competition for it when there
are other organizations who can point to their need. What
(05:51):
do you say to that?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, well it's a coalition agreement, so we're honoring that.
We're delivering on that in the budget, and I'm more
than open to look at other organizations how we can
resource them accordinatly. Like I say, we've got it's a
publicly hundred mental health system, but it does have some
constraints and I think there's real opportunities with pairing up
with our ng and community sectors so they can go
(06:14):
on and do the great work they do.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Hey, Men's Health Week. Any special events or campaigns that
you're anything you're getting involved in this week?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Yeah, I'm going to open the November event in christ
Church on Friday and many will know November. It's a
great awareness raising and I'm just looking forward to being
involved in a lot of groups who raise whether it
be physical health or mental health. It's important that we
try and break down the barriers. You know, in your
introduction you talked about the increased suicide risk at about
(06:47):
three to one for men in New Zealand. So we've
got a long way to go, but it's weeks like
this we just have an ability to have a bit
of a stock take have an ability to have a
conversation with someone close to us, and I think it's
the conversations that make the most difference.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
I don't want to hammer your own privacy on your
own health, but just on a day to day or
week to week or month by month case, you're in
a pretty stressful environment in Parliament, do you have any
particular regular routines or way of looking after your mental health?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Yeah, I mean the first thing I'd say is and
hopefully not drowned it out by this rain. I'm out
in the deck in North Canterbury and the rains good
back down now. But that's a good Sunday afternoon, isn't it.
But look, I don't want to put MPs up on
pedestals yet. We've got high profile jobs. We work long hours.
There's a bit of stress and pressure, but there's a
(07:38):
lot of jobs like that, and the reality is everyone's
quite different. For some people that can manage a certain
amount of pressure and stress. For other people they prefer
to work in other environments. And I think the main
thing for me is just been aware of when I
have been under a bit of pressure, how I'm responding,
and for me, the way I deal with it. I've
(07:59):
got young kids and dislike today it's hanging out with them.
And after I finished talking with you, term mom on
duties for cooking the chicken roast for dinner to excellent.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Nothing like a bit of cooking for mental health. What
would your message be to any men and women who
are listening to this or a who's thinking with you know,
men's health, but it's women as well, But what would
your message be to anyone who's struggling with their mental
or physical health at the moment?
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Say you're normal. We all struggle with it. No one's alone.
And actually, when you do decide to reach out and
if you want to jump online or you mentioned in
the intro term one seven three seven, there's a lot
of people that are really keen to hear from anyone
who's under a bit of stress. But yeah, definitely reach out.
(08:42):
I mean, sadly, we're there stubbornly high suicide rates. A
lot of them are same day crisis, and we do
know that if we can get to people on the
day and just let them know that someone's there for them,
we can get through that and support them on the
other side.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Oh well, hey, look, Matt, I really appreciate your time
this afternoon, and good luck with the roast chicken.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Oh good cheers now.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
By and by the way, yes, on a serious note,
one seven three seven I always mentioned that number. I
think it's a great initiative that was created that you
can text or call one seven three seven if you
want someone to talk about if you are concerned about
your own mental health.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
For more from the Weekend Collective, listen live to News
Talk sed BE weekends from three pm, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talks,
I'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
What we often hear is men have it so easy.
What do they have to complain about? But as it
turns out quite a bit, because key we men are
three times more likely than women to die by self
harm and as we know, New Zealand is one of
the high rates of that with our youth in the
developed world, and many of us suffer from mental distress.
And by the way, because I mentioned these themes, if
(00:32):
you are listening to this interview and you think you
need some help or there's anything that comes to mind
that you really want to talk to someone, I always
give this, I guess reminded of people the fantastic one
seven three seven service. Please text or call it if
anything that we discuss around mental health has you thinking
about that, maybe you need some help, so please do that.
(00:52):
And as I say, this week marks the end of
Men's Health the start of Men's Health Week in New Zealand.
As men across New Zealand aim to get to their
top are their biggest and most important asset their physical
and mental health. To speak to us about us and
a few other things. As Minister for Mental Health and
it is Matt Douc. Good afternoon, Hi term happy Men's
(01:13):
health will Yes, yes, now you have been. You've been
quite open about your own mental health struggles. How has
your personal experience shaped your approach to your role as
Minister for Mental Health.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Well, the first thing I say, it's great to have
a week focused on the blokes. It's I think it's important.
And look, you know, I don't want to generalize because
everyone's experiences are different, but I just know for me,
what I experienced just raised my awareness. I was able,
and you know, it wasn't a linear approach. I had
ups and downs, but just over time I became more
(01:50):
aware of my own mental health and how I'm impacted
by it. And like I say, now, for me, it's
just a relationship I have with my mental health. Sometimes
it's not that good, sometimes it's good, and like any relationship,
you just need to work on it. So I think
any awareness are raising awareness raising event like Men's Health
(02:14):
Week is just brilliant to keep the conversation going.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
I guess it would be one of those portfolios we're
having a little empathy for people who need the services
of mental health does actually help doesn't it.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
I mean for me, I had my own experiences and
that led me to work in the mental health field.
And when I decided to give politics a go, actually
realized that New Zealand was ready to have this wider conversation.
And I think it's a really exciting opportunity. All I've
done is got a job. Anyone can get a job.
But it's just you know, how I can maybe play
(02:49):
my part in the system to advocate for better mental health,
for maybe get men to talk about it a bit more.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
How short of the mark are we in having the
capacity to deal with our country's mental health issues.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
Yeah, I think we've got to give ourselves some acknowledgement.
I think we've come a long way. I think as
a country we've really started to break down the stigma
and the barriers. And you think of like Sir John
Kerwin and Mike King and Jazz Thornton's and I think
we have come a long way. Surely we can do
a lot more. And you know, you have a young
(03:25):
generation now that's just so articulates in mental health. They've
got a huge vocabulary, they're more open about it, they
talk about a lot more. But you know, there's a
lot of people, probably my age and older, that never
had that. So we still need to fight hard to
make sure that people can feel comfortable opening up. And
I think the issue now in New Zealanders we've come
(03:47):
so far allowing people to be more open, but sadly
when they do take that leap of faith to reach out,
quite often that time he support's not there.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
The men still struggle more I don't. I mean, look,
I hate to generalize, but we do generalize when it
comes to genders. Do you think I think it's still
there's a perception and that men are that it's harder
to get in to talk about our mental health.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Yeah, I think widely that's true. I mean I still
hear stories out where I live here in North Canterbury.
Quite often it's the wife or the partner still ringing
up the GP to make an appointment. But you know,
we have done better and we can still continue to
do better. And I think the issue with men, and
it's going to take us while to break it sort
(04:31):
of that macho persona. And I think you know, we
internalize a lot and we're quite worried potentially what people
think of us if we show a bit of emotion
and vulnerability, but I think we're getting better at it.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Did you get what you need in the budget?
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Yeah? I was quite happy to get the twenty four
million dollars for gun Boot Friday. That'll go a long
way to support young people, about fifteen thousand extra young
people who access timely support through that initiative, and also
a ten million dollar innovation fun that will help scale
up very innovative community services. I'm really keen to get
(05:11):
as much money as we can out of the beehive
to our grassroots organizations. I'm speaking opening the November conference
in christ Church on Friday. I mean, they just do
fantastic works and I just commend all our mngos who
are fighting the good fight.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
There was a bit of a conversation around how about
the twenty four million for Mike King's Gumboot Friday. I
actually think it's called I Am Hope. Isn't the actual
organization Gumbook Friday is the particular Okay, there was a
little bit of criticism, well maybe there was a bit
more than a little that it was sort of dealt
out without much sort of competition for it when there
are other organizations who can point to their need. What
(05:51):
do you say to that?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, well it's a coalition agreement, so we're honoring that.
We're delivering on that in the budget, and I'm more
than open to look at other organizations how we can
resource them accordinatly. Like I say, we've got it's a
publicly hundred mental health system, but it does have some
constraints and I think there's real opportunities with pairing up
with our ng and community sectors so they can go
(06:14):
on and do the great work they do.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Hey, Men's Health Week. Any special events or campaigns that
you're anything you're getting involved in this week?
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Yeah, I'm going to open the November event in christ
Church on Friday and many will know November. It's a
great awareness raising and I'm just looking forward to being
involved in a lot of groups who raise whether it
be physical health or mental health. It's important that we
try and break down the barriers. You know, in your
introduction you talked about the increased suicide risk at about
(06:47):
three to one for men in New Zealand. So we've
got a long way to go, but it's weeks like
this we just have an ability to have a bit
of a stock take have an ability to have a
conversation with someone close to us, and I think it's
the conversations that make the most difference.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
I don't want to hammer your own privacy on your
own health, but just on a day to day or
week to week or month by month case, you're in
a pretty stressful environment in Parliament, do you have any
particular regular routines or way of looking after your mental health?
Speaker 3 (07:18):
Yeah, I mean the first thing I'd say is and
hopefully not drowned it out by this rain. I'm out
in the deck in North Canterbury and the rains good
back down now. But that's a good Sunday afternoon, isn't it.
But look, I don't want to put MPs up on
pedestals yet. We've got high profile jobs. We work long hours.
There's a bit of stress and pressure, but there's a
(07:38):
lot of jobs like that, and the reality is everyone's
quite different. For some people that can manage a certain
amount of pressure and stress. For other people they prefer
to work in other environments. And I think the main
thing for me is just been aware of when I
have been under a bit of pressure, how I'm responding,
and for me, the way I deal with it. I've
(07:59):
got young kids and dislike today it's hanging out with them.
And after I finished talking with you, term mom on
duties for cooking the chicken roast for dinner to excellent.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Nothing like a bit of cooking for mental health. What
would your message be to any men and women who
are listening to this or a who's thinking with you know,
men's health, but it's women as well, But what would
your message be to anyone who's struggling with their mental
or physical health at the moment?
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Say you're normal. We all struggle with it. No one's alone.
And actually, when you do decide to reach out and
if you want to jump online or you mentioned in
the intro term one seven three seven, there's a lot
of people that are really keen to hear from anyone
who's under a bit of stress. But yeah, definitely reach out.
(08:42):
I mean, sadly, we're there stubbornly high suicide rates. A
lot of them are same day crisis, and we do
know that if we can get to people on the
day and just let them know that someone's there for them,
we can get through that and support them on the
other side.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Oh well, hey, look, Matt, I really appreciate your time
this afternoon, and good luck with the roast chicken.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Oh good cheers now.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
By and by the way, yes, on a serious note,
one seven three seven I always mentioned that number. I
think it's a great initiative that was created that you
can text or call one seven three seven if you
want someone to talk about if you are concerned about
your own mental health.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
For more from the Weekend Collective, listen live to News
Talk sed BE weekends from three pm, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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