A Christchurch woman who believes the Gumboot Fund saved her son's life is pleading for the government to prop it up.
Saige England. Photo: RNZ / Katie Todd
The free counselling fund for youths, set up and crowd-funded through Mike King's charity I Am Hope, abruptly ran out of money last month, leaving counsellors and clients in the lurch.
Mr King said there was a surge in uptake that took everyone by surprise, but the next major funding top-up wasn't expected for six months after the next Gumboot Friday event.
Saige England - herself a qualified counsellor - said she was distressed, desperate and exhausted after trying to get help for her 16-year-old son through the public system this year.
Listen to Saige England speaking to First Up
He had lost someone close to him in the March mosque attacks and a friend to suicide when he was 12 years old, but Ms England said he was repeatedly dismissed by the public health system and unable to access the psychotherapy support she knew he needed.
"We felt he was very quickly being assessed and being told that they would be in touch ... and then a day or two later, two days later, still waiting, finding that they hadn't been in touch," she said.
"They said, well, he doesn't fit a diagnosis so you can't get free help. And it's only when he was in a crisis that he could be seen."
Mike King. Photo: RNZ / DOM THOMAS
A school teacher suggested Ms England approached a counsellor through the Gumboot Fund. After registering online, a counsellor got in contact, and about 10 sessions later Ms England said her son has emerged out a much better, happier, "really lovely" person.
"To see my boy suffering and then to see him now, the difference, the change... I'm just so thankful," she said.
"He felt somebody had really connected with him and I think that's the thing. It's that good counsellors and therapists are relating to the person's needs. It's very focused on that person client focused, not on a system trying to tick the boxes."
Ms England said she paid for the last sessions herself after the Gumboot Fund ran out, which wasn't easy to afford. She said she was really grateful for what her son got for free, but gutted for all the others that had missed out.
"I felt really sad for all the parents of young people who, now haven't got that. I'd referred friends, and I just felt like oh my gosh ... it's like being at the edge of a cliff again. It's all gone because there was a need but we still have that need," she said.
"Please, please, I'm begging the government, give this money to this because its working. It's working. We needed something different and Mike King has given us something different. We've got an epidemic and New Zealand and Mike King has been the person that answered that epidemic. I am so grateful to him for that."
Where to get help:
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What's Up: online chat (3pm-10pm) or 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 helpline (12pm-10pm weekdays, 3pm-11pm weekends)
Kidsline (ages 5-18): 0800 543 754 (24/7)
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.