In a highly unusual move, National has given a Labour MP one of its slots to speak in Parliament on mental health.
Labour MP Louisa Wall. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
During a debate this afternoon on the Zero Suicide report, National MP Matt Doocey told the House that Labour MP Louisa Wall was blocked from speaking by her own party, describing it as "absolutely disgusting".
"Sadly we lost provisionally 654 Kiwis last year," he told Parliament.
About 150,000 New Zealanders think about taking their life, 50,000 make a suicide plan and 20,000 attempt to take their own life; "the harsh truth behind suicide in New Zealand".
There was no reason this country could not have one of the lowest suicide rates in the world or the highest rates of mental wellbeing - "political will" would make the difference, Doocey said.
He wanted to keep the debate non-political but was highly critical of Labour for its treatment of its own MP.
"What I think was absolutely disgusting is Labour blocked Louisa Wall from taking a call in this debate. Louisa Wall is a founding member of the cross-party mental health group. She championed this report and worked hard on it," he said.
"She has been blocked from taking a call on this debate so National has given Louisa one ... of our calls. Because it's important that Louisa has a call in this debate."
Matt Doocey. Photo: Dom Thomas
ACT MP Karen Chhour said she could not speak for everyone but could speak "from experience of feeling like the world would be better off without me in it".
"There have been moments in life when the world seemed so complicated, that nobody understood me, and I wasn't worth being understood. There were times I was sad and couldn't even tell you why I was sad. And I think those were the worst times, because if you can pinpoint why at least you can solve it, right?
"I just want to say it's okay to not be okay. Just because you can't understand and explain what it is doesn't make it any less."
Only people in crisis were now being funded to receive treatment, she said, "which means people are waiting far longer than they should to get the help they need".
She said every New Zealander lost to suicide impacted many people, including family, friends, and the wider community.
ACT Primary Industries spokesperson Mark Cameron said farmers were bearing huge burdens and mental illness was an "absolute scourge" on rural communities.
Mark Cameron. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
Holding back tears, he said he had seen it all in 32 years, including drug use run rampant and depression.
"I have also buried four of my farming colleagues. Rural folk often ... refer to it as the black dog, or the hitchhiker, or the bloody thief in the night.
"We all hear the minister of health saying this kind of thing is not simply good enough, well we say in rural New Zealand 'what's he doing about it, and when will they all start working together'. Where are our doctors, our healthcare workers? When will rural clinics get the bloody help they need?"
Cameron said farmers were contending with crop failures, flooding and "increasingly, poor public policy that's becoming increasingly impractical and unworkable".
"Rural folk are often pragmatists. We tend to treat mental illness like broken bones or the flu. But in truth it's very different. Ultimately we know we can't put timeframes on these things."
He said the help that farmers wanted or needed was, sadly, just not coming. During the M Bovis outbreak, he had received just a single phone call in a year from the rural support trust.
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. Photo: RNZ / Te Aniwa Hurihanganui
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer criticised MPs' behaviour and the House, saying it had ridiculed whānau who were working hard to break cycles of intergenerational trauma.
"These are institutions and attitudes that instil whakamā into our communities. Whakamā, shame, is one of the biggest killers of Māori - too whakamā to ask for help, to ask for help out of addictions, to ask for help when we're pōhara, to ask for help out of abuse, to ask for help when our whānau aren't doing well.
"When this very House shamefully ridicules, bashes and debates the rights of those whānau it is an assault on the very identities and lived experiences.
"We have a responsibility to address our own behaviour. We have an obligation to look in the mirror."
This all follows the blocking of a select committee inquiry into the role of mental health facilities by Labour MPs yesterday.
Doocey said it was "a predictable but disappointing move" in the face of delays to getting "a shovel in the ground and build these 15 new inpatient mental health facilities".
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.