Rural Women New Zealand is calling for more mental health support for rural communities, following an impassioned plea in Parliament by ACT MP Mark Cameron.
“We want to offer our heartfelt support to Mark Cameron for having the courage to stand in Parliament’s debating chamber and share his whanau’s grief after recently losing his son to suicide,” Rural Women New Zealand chair Sandra Matthews said.
“The more we acknowledge and talk about these issues the better, as we know our rural communities are doing it really tough.”
Cameron’s son Brody died in May in a suspected suicide that he confirmed.
Speaking during a general debate on September 11, Cameron described the impact his son’s death has had on him.
“Yesterday was World Suicide Prevention Day; hard for some, bloody hard for me. I buried my boy and he is gone,” he said.
“I am a father to a lost son, a parent to a lost child, but I turn up every day in this House because I believe in rural New Zealand,” he said.
Cameron described his son as “a contractor, a farmer, an everyday good Kiwi bloke”.
“I might be able to help rural people preserve their way of life. There’s a novel idea, and I don’t just mean in passing, giving them a passing ear; actually listen to these people. Politicians need to stop and actually listen to rural folk.”
Cameron said the “scourge of suicide” took his son and it must not take any more children. He urged his fellow MPs to think of the people affected when laws are made in Parliament.
Matthews said there is a wide range of issues at play in rural communities at the moment ranging from communities experiencing significant job losses from the closure or scaling back of major local employers, to public sector job losses in the regions.
“We also have communities grappling with the ongoing impacts and slow journey to recovery following Cyclone Gabrielle and the North Island extreme weather events; various communities facing ongoing drought; as well as farmers affected by low market prices at the same time as rising input and living costs.”
She welcomed the government’s continuation of rollout mental health support to primary and intermediate students in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti and the recent announcements to increase support for drought-affected communities and increase funding for Rural Support Trusts.
“Rural communities rely on volunteers and we know people are overwhelmed and at the risk of burnout from the plethora of issues they are having to face.
“With Mental Health Awareness Week just around the corner, we urge the government to continue to invest in providing increased resources and access to rural mental health services, including counselling and medical assessments.”
Suffering from depression or stress, or know someone who is? Where to get help:
Rural Support Trust: 0800 RURAL HELP
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757
Lifeline: 0800 543 354
Need To Talk? Call or text 1737
Samaritans: 0800 726 666
Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234
