August 20, 2024 • 7 mins
I Am Hope founder Mike King joins Craig Cumming to chat Gumboot Friday reaching the major milestone of delivering 100,000 free counselling sessions
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right, a feel good story free counseling platform. Gunvert Friday
has just surpassed a major milestone. They have delivered one
hundred thousand counseling sessions and I'm delighted to have joining
us and appreciate us time as the founder of I
Am I Hope.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Mike Ken, Good morning, Mike.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
How are you pray? How are you mate?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Very well?
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Very well, And I'll be obviously keeping a close eye
on what you do, which is a fantastic thing. But
congratulations first of all on one hundred thousand counseling sessions.
I know it hasn't been easy, but that must be
a really special milestone.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
It's huge. You know, we'll come up against a lot
of barriers on the later the number, but what drives us,
as you know, kids above everything. So you know, we
were told it wouldn't work. We were told that. You know,
they're wearing up counselors, and and we're here and we're
going every.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Day and we are You've now got some government support,
I think was it twenty four million have been given
for the next four years. How important is that for
your with for the foundation, for I Am Hope and
being able to give more sessions available.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Uh, well, for us it's a bit of a nightmare
because we give all the money to the counselors, so
I've got to find two point six million dollars to
cover the admin and the wages. But for the kids
of yours, you know, it is to have that certainty
that we can go for at least another four years
and meet the demand for four years for the kids
(01:22):
in your Zealand. It's a huge one.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
It's a tough thing, Mike, isn't it because I mean,
you know, the expectation, well, not the expectation, the requirement
is just going, you know, so fast.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
You know, how do you keep on top of it?
How do you keep going with that?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Well? I think I think our biggest, our biggest job
is to change the perception of what counseling is. So
if you look at counseling through the old lens or
the traditional lens of counseling, it's a mental health intervention.
As you as a father, if you had a child,
you'd have to go to a doctor's, the doctor would
(01:57):
have to declare them mentally ill, and then you go
on scruciatingly long waiting list. Our model is about turning
counseling from a mental health intervention to it's just a conversation,
getting kids in there, talking about little problems before they
become big problems, before they become suicidal thoughts. So it's
(02:20):
really hard convincing those who have been in this field
a long time. The traditionalists will call them that, no,
this is different. It's not the ambulance at the bottom
of the cliff, it's the fence at the top of
the cliff. And that way, most kids only require one
or two sessions talking to someone who's an expert, helping
(02:43):
them to understand their thoughts and helping them to deal
with those thoughts going forward.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
So who do you need to influence more than Mike?
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Is it because young kids don't know what they don't
know and they probably not sure what to do. Or
is it that the old traditions who stand as a
barrier to actually maybe whether it's parents stopping their kids
from makes you reaching.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Out, that's right, it's parents, brother, these kids. You know,
I've spoken in the schools for the last I don't
know ten years, spoke face to face and listened to
over three hundred and fifty thousand kids. They know exactly
what is going on. The problem they have is communicating
(03:25):
with their parents, and not because you know, the number
one reason kids don't talk to their parents about their
crisis and what's going on in their lives is they
don't want to hurt them. You know the story I
hear over and over and over again, as my mom
and dad have worked so hard and sacrificed so much.
If I go and tell them that I'm having problems,
that they'll blame themselves and they'll make them feel bad. So,
(03:48):
you know, we have to we have to work harder
at showing our kids that, you know, we had the
same issues when we were their age. We were vulnerable
once too. We can't see each other our kids about
our achievements, but we're not telling them about the struggles
that it took to get there and our thoughts and
our fears along the way. And the other time we
(04:10):
do talk about this, Craig, is when our child's having
an issue. Oh, same thing I've do And I was
your race, My your friend left me too. Plenty of
other fish in the sea. What we think we're saying
is this is just a life experience. Mate. It happens
to everyone. What our kids are hearing is, so as
soon as I talk about me, you make it about
you and how you conquered this. Our kids need to
(04:33):
understand that the thoughts and the emotions that they are
having we all had at their same age, and the
normal this is a normal part about of being a
human being.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
The difference is, though, Mike, when you and I grew up,
we didn't have social media, did we? So as a parent,
we probably also don't really understand the landscape that our
kids are now operating in because we didn't grow.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Up with that.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Well, you know, parents are always blaming social media, but
the other ones that are using it as a babysit them.
It's very convenient to them when they want to use it,
but when there's any problems are quick to blame it.
You know, there's social media like we had that. We
had that back in our day, Craig. It was called
(05:21):
the newspaper, nose buried in it all freaking day, you know,
all day. So it's exactly that it's a communication device.
But you know, it's easy, you know, like as human beings,
we're quick to blame others. It's easier to give that's
the problem over there. Then look in the mirror and
ask ourselves what role am I playing in this and
(05:43):
what can I do that's better? Social media isn't going anywhere.
Phones aren't going anywhere that you know, they're going to
become more prolific. So we need to understand what we
can do to provide that balance for our kids and
stop blaming this one device over here because it makes
us feel good.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Absolutely, that's exactly right.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
And then also looking how to use that device in
a positive way, which absolutely because that's all right, that's.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
The way the environment is.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
I mean, eye coach cricketers, you know, Mike, and I
got a learn to use that device to help me
actually with my coaching because it care because things are accessible,
that's right.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
So my daughter learned on a little wee app when
she was eighteen months old how to spell and how
to sound out words. You know, endless reader, it's called
of any of your listeners out there, I want to
pregget eighteen months old, taught her how to sound out letters.
She is she'd cropped the whole Harry Potter series by
(06:44):
the time she was seven years old. No ship, yeah, exactly.
So these devices are great. You've got to you've got
to learn. You have to learn how to operate them
as well, and you've got to get involved in your
child's world. Don't tell your child shut your world off.
You know it's bad. Get into their world and understand
(07:04):
what they're actually doing and what they're playing and why
it's important to them.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Appreciate your time.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I congratulations on this master, and again, keep keep up
the great fight. It is certainly inspirational. And if you
ever need any support down here in Dunedin, I'm here
and please reach out because I'd love to be able
to support you.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Thanks Greg, you keep us roight bad.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Brother, Always try, always try. Thanks for your time. The
Mike King, we better get to a break. Sixteen minutes
to nine
Right, a feel good story free counseling platform. Gunvert Friday
has just surpassed a major milestone. They have delivered one
hundred thousand counseling sessions and I'm delighted to have joining
us and appreciate us time as the founder of I
Am I Hope.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Mike Ken, Good morning, Mike.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
How are you pray? How are you mate?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Very well?
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Very well, And I'll be obviously keeping a close eye
on what you do, which is a fantastic thing. But
congratulations first of all on one hundred thousand counseling sessions.
I know it hasn't been easy, but that must be
a really special milestone.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
It's huge. You know, we'll come up against a lot
of barriers on the later the number, but what drives us,
as you know, kids above everything. So you know, we
were told it wouldn't work. We were told that. You know,
they're wearing up counselors, and and we're here and we're
going every.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Day and we are You've now got some government support,
I think was it twenty four million have been given
for the next four years. How important is that for
your with for the foundation, for I Am Hope and
being able to give more sessions available.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
Uh, well, for us it's a bit of a nightmare
because we give all the money to the counselors, so
I've got to find two point six million dollars to
cover the admin and the wages. But for the kids
of yours, you know, it is to have that certainty
that we can go for at least another four years
and meet the demand for four years for the kids
(01:22):
in your Zealand. It's a huge one.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
It's a tough thing, Mike, isn't it because I mean,
you know, the expectation, well, not the expectation, the requirement
is just going, you know, so fast.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
You know, how do you keep on top of it?
How do you keep going with that?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Well? I think I think our biggest, our biggest job
is to change the perception of what counseling is. So
if you look at counseling through the old lens or
the traditional lens of counseling, it's a mental health intervention.
As you as a father, if you had a child,
you'd have to go to a doctor's, the doctor would
(01:57):
have to declare them mentally ill, and then you go
on scruciatingly long waiting list. Our model is about turning
counseling from a mental health intervention to it's just a conversation,
getting kids in there, talking about little problems before they
become big problems, before they become suicidal thoughts. So it's
(02:20):
really hard convincing those who have been in this field
a long time. The traditionalists will call them that, no,
this is different. It's not the ambulance at the bottom
of the cliff, it's the fence at the top of
the cliff. And that way, most kids only require one
or two sessions talking to someone who's an expert, helping
(02:43):
them to understand their thoughts and helping them to deal
with those thoughts going forward.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
So who do you need to influence more than Mike?
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Is it because young kids don't know what they don't
know and they probably not sure what to do. Or
is it that the old traditions who stand as a
barrier to actually maybe whether it's parents stopping their kids
from makes you reaching.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Out, that's right, it's parents, brother, these kids. You know,
I've spoken in the schools for the last I don't
know ten years, spoke face to face and listened to
over three hundred and fifty thousand kids. They know exactly
what is going on. The problem they have is communicating
(03:25):
with their parents, and not because you know, the number
one reason kids don't talk to their parents about their
crisis and what's going on in their lives is they
don't want to hurt them. You know the story I
hear over and over and over again, as my mom
and dad have worked so hard and sacrificed so much.
If I go and tell them that I'm having problems,
that they'll blame themselves and they'll make them feel bad. So,
(03:48):
you know, we have to we have to work harder
at showing our kids that, you know, we had the
same issues when we were their age. We were vulnerable
once too. We can't see each other our kids about
our achievements, but we're not telling them about the struggles
that it took to get there and our thoughts and
our fears along the way. And the other time we
(04:10):
do talk about this, Craig, is when our child's having
an issue. Oh, same thing I've do And I was
your race, My your friend left me too. Plenty of
other fish in the sea. What we think we're saying
is this is just a life experience. Mate. It happens
to everyone. What our kids are hearing is, so as
soon as I talk about me, you make it about
you and how you conquered this. Our kids need to
(04:33):
understand that the thoughts and the emotions that they are
having we all had at their same age, and the
normal this is a normal part about of being a
human being.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
The difference is, though, Mike, when you and I grew up,
we didn't have social media, did we? So as a parent,
we probably also don't really understand the landscape that our
kids are now operating in because we didn't grow.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Up with that.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Well, you know, parents are always blaming social media, but
the other ones that are using it as a babysit them.
It's very convenient to them when they want to use it,
but when there's any problems are quick to blame it.
You know, there's social media like we had that. We
had that back in our day, Craig. It was called
(05:21):
the newspaper, nose buried in it all freaking day, you know,
all day. So it's exactly that it's a communication device.
But you know, it's easy, you know, like as human beings,
we're quick to blame others. It's easier to give that's
the problem over there. Then look in the mirror and
ask ourselves what role am I playing in this and
(05:43):
what can I do that's better? Social media isn't going anywhere.
Phones aren't going anywhere that you know, they're going to
become more prolific. So we need to understand what we
can do to provide that balance for our kids and
stop blaming this one device over here because it makes
us feel good.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Absolutely, that's exactly right.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
And then also looking how to use that device in
a positive way, which absolutely because that's all right, that's.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
The way the environment is.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
I mean, eye coach cricketers, you know, Mike, and I
got a learn to use that device to help me
actually with my coaching because it care because things are accessible,
that's right.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
So my daughter learned on a little wee app when
she was eighteen months old how to spell and how
to sound out words. You know, endless reader, it's called
of any of your listeners out there, I want to
pregget eighteen months old, taught her how to sound out letters.
She is she'd cropped the whole Harry Potter series by
(06:44):
the time she was seven years old. No ship, yeah, exactly.
So these devices are great. You've got to you've got
to learn. You have to learn how to operate them
as well, and you've got to get involved in your
child's world. Don't tell your child shut your world off.
You know it's bad. Get into their world and understand
(07:04):
what they're actually doing and what they're playing and why
it's important to them.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Appreciate your time.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I congratulations on this master, and again, keep keep up
the great fight. It is certainly inspirational. And if you
ever need any support down here in Dunedin, I'm here
and please reach out because I'd love to be able
to support you.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Thanks Greg, you keep us roight bad.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Brother, Always try, always try. Thanks for your time. The
Mike King, we better get to a break. Sixteen minutes
to nine
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