The statistics \u201csadly, [don\u2019t] surprise me at all\u201d.<\/p>\n
Tim Marshall, kaihautu (co-ordinator) of Tauawhi Men\u2019s Centre, “sadly” wasn’t surprised by statistics showing a high rate of psychological distress for Gisborne youth. Photo \/ Zoe Mills<\/p>\n
While a variety of factors contributed to Gisborne\u2019s statistics, a common theme was physical and social isolation, he said.<\/p>\n
Gisborne has a high rate of employment within farming<\/a>, forestry <\/a>and agriculture, all industries with high levels of physical isolation and solitary work.<\/p>\n Tair\u0101whiti\u2019s geographic isolation<\/a> also impacted residents\u2019 ability to access mental health support services, leading to increased reliance on wh\u0101nau and immediate community support.<\/p>\n Spending a lot of time online created its own type of isolation, Marshall said.<\/p>\n Young people were more likely to turn to harmful rhetoric in online spaces<\/a> if they felt disconnected from their in-person community.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s part of the puzzle … the big thing around it is connection. How can we keep all our kids connected? How can we get them to feel and understand that they have a voice?\u201d<\/p>\n Last year, the NZ Herald covered reports by the Sir Peter Gluckman-led thinktank Koi T\u016b: Centre for Informed Futures<\/a>, which found social media was \u201can amplifier on both negative and positive influences playing a role in mental health\u201d.<\/p>\n Hannah said she was able to use online platforms to connect with others when she had trouble connecting with others in-person. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen you can\u2019t find it in your community, you can branch out.\u201d<\/p>\n Marshall said another significant factor in mental health outcomes was the flow-on effects from extreme weather events, which could cause mental health distress for coastal communities.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople now get anxiety when it starts to rain heavily,\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n \u201cOur Prime Minister turns up with some KFC<\/a>, but then they\u2019re largely forgotten after that.”<\/p>\n Mental health resourcing in Tair\u0101whiti<\/p>\n Marshall said Tair\u0101whiti was \u201cnot proportionally\u201d well-resourced with mental health support compared to the rest of the country.<\/p>\n Support services being the \u201cright fit\u201d for individuals was important for effective support.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the most important things for people when they\u2019re coming asking for help is to feel that they\u2019re being heard.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the men seeking help, for a lot of them, it\u2019s taken a lot of effort to even just walk in our door. So if we can\u2019t provide an environment where they feel like at least they\u2019ve got off the start mark \u2026 even if it\u2019s just to share their story \u2026 we probably won\u2019t see them again.”<\/p>\n In his experience with the centre\u2019s support group, informal conversation had had positive impacts on mental health, particularly for men, as there was a stigma about reaching out for direct mental health support. <\/p>\n \u201c[There is] probably more that we could do in the youth space, creating youth-friendly spaces, (and) tapping into youth voice in terms of leading community decisions that affect them.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s where the power is \u2026 how can we build those conversations with young men and young women around what\u2019s happening for them?\u201d<\/p>\n Where to from here?<\/p>\n Marshall said there was a need for more spaces that supported prevention over mental health crisis intervention alone, to allow people to find support in a \u201cmore natural way\u201d.<\/p>\n As part of a $61.6m Government investment into mental health crisis response services nationwide last year<\/a>, a $1m tender was awarded to open a crisis recovery cafe in Tair\u0101whiti.<\/a><\/p>\n