The reason I'm not surprised is because some of what he said is factually wrong.
King claimed alcohol wasn't a problem for people with mental health issues - but rather, a solution.
Remember, we are talking about suicide. For people with suicidal ideation, alcohol is a problem because it lowers inhibitions, meaning people are more likely to act on their feelings. And it’s a depressant, it lowers your mood, it makes you more unhappy.
But some of what he said - to be fair to him - is also his own lived experience in trying to cope with his mental health issues.
He said he's a drug addict and alcoholic and his whole life, he used drugs and alcohol to stop that little voice inside his head.
You can’t argue with that as much, because that is his experience. And there is actually evidence that alcohol does provide a mental escape in the moment.
What I'm a little surprised by is the strength of the reaction to Mike King today. I was expecting the anti-alcohol people to get wound up - but I wasn't expecting the Labour Party to go quite as far as they have.
Labour have today called for Government funding of Gumboot Friday to be reconsidered. Let's be clear about what’s going on here, this is political.
There was a time when everyone loved Mike King and thought he was a good guy doing good work for mental health.
But then he became a political figure, because he took on Jacinda Ardern and had a public scrap with her, because her Government pulled funding from his charity and handed back his Order of Merit medal
The Nats then adopted him and funded his charity in a way that the Auditor-General isn't totally happy with, and now people are split on whether they love Mike King or not - probably, in some cases, depending on how they vote.
Now, I'm not saying Mike King is above criticism or scrutiny or that this isn’t a debate worth having.
I'm just saying, bear in mind that when we do have it, that this isn’t just about mental health and alcohol - it’s also about politics.
Heather du Plessis-Allan is a journalist and commentator who hosts Newstalk ZB's Drive show HERE - where this article was sourced.
2 comments:
It worked for him because he didn’ t have the support his charity is now offering.
He should know enough to not generalise & recognise that the drugs & alcohol only masked his symptoms, they didn’t heal him - simply kicked the can down the road & made his struggle that much harder.
Very disappointing to see him be this naive & careless with his comments as he is just playing into the Labour Party’s & media’s hands.
I can never understand how people can allow themselves to be snookered so easily.
On a side note, I suspect his son’s very clever commentary is what the Labour Party hate more.
Labour of course pumped millions into the Mongrel Mob. I think they
have double standards.
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