Still an unacceptable statement from someone who leads an organisation that has been funded by government for youth mental health. And without the proper procurement process. That’s the other half of the story Jessie. If he’d just been some random it wouldn’t have been harmful.
Good on you for promoting the much-needed, ‘let’s just take a breath, eh?’ stance. It’s pretty clear that, regardless of context, the comments from someone who is now - for better or worse - the face of this government’s approach to tackling mental illness amongst rangatahi are very, very damaging. It’s also clear the vitriolic response is influenced by the frustration people feel with the way King’s charity has been funded, and the widespread damage this does to other providers in the sector. It’s not a pretty response, but (and speaking as someone who has lived experience here) the lesson is the same: think before you speak.
Fair comment Jesse and your analysis is certainly worth reading and considering.
With a public profile (like it or not) I think comes a responsibility to choose your words and consider the consequences for others of your espoused views. That’s not to say that you necessarily should temper your views, everybody’s opinion is valid, but rather to speak not in haste but with that extra lenses of “could this be taken the wrong way” and if so, provide clear intent and context.
I appreciated you sharing the wider context of his words.
Many people with an overactive mind use alcohol until they learn a better way. Mental health interventions help to show another way. Pretending it doesn’t happen and cancelling someone for talking about it albeit clumsily is so NZ. Great article Jesse.
This is spot on Jesse. I’m consistently freaked out by the energy and glee exhibited when an online mob and media coalesce around the latest subject of a takedown. What he said is absolutely flawed but there’s a reading of the comments happening that is wilfully cursory and not at all thoughtful.
Thanks Jesse. The beat down on Mike King has been rabid. His comments were controversial but he’s been there in the depths of depression. What King is saying is that people would not turn to alcohol and drugs if they had the support they needed. The solution is not alcohol and drugs, the solution is a fully funded mental health support system.
I tend to agree. I am thinking of how easy it is to destroy a person in Aotearoa. Thinking of a former Green MP & unproven allegations. But I do think Govt should actually have in place rules as to who gets funding, particularly in mental health arenas because we have huge issues. One solution would be to have housing for our unhoused whānau. Govt should be funding more housing. So many issues that we could be trying to solve…
i do have issues with King, but I did think that he was being ripped for something he didnt really say, in that it was taken out of context. The man is not stupid, why would he say something opposite to what his heart works for. My issue has been the funding, the accountability, the resourcing in terms of other good organisations unresourced, theres a bit of a gravey train maybe.........but from distance, I could get what his drift was, and from an ex addict perspective he was coming from. Just like, and I hate to admit this......some of tRumps electric shark stories were vaguely understandable. May be my adhd brain. Thanks for this call to a bit more grace Jesse. Point taken.
Kia ora Jesse, thank you for your courage. If we are eviscerating Mike King for the impression sloppy word choices can bring - ie the differ gymence between " it keeps us going until some help comes along" and ' it can keep us going until some help comes along' - then we all need to be as discriminating about our own words, research, and the basis for our public judgments. This is not to say that accountability and fairness is not a real issue with the funding. See excellent, recent Spinoff article by Anna Sophia. Thank you for "exercising the muscle of good faith". Most of all, I find this writing reassuring as a good, fair example to model for our public discourse. Ngā mihi, Margi
👍💯👏Tautoko... I don't like much about the man apart from his character in both dealing with his own addiction & trying to help others, but it was obvious to me what he meant even if a bad "message" from someone in the position he has put himself in 🤷
🙋P. S. As others said, I think part of it is blaming him for what the govt did - no problem with him ASKING for funding & promoting his case {everyone has to do it} but in being successful many worthy groups & services missed out 🤬
I don’t disagree entirely with this.. however when a public figure especially one who is advocating for mental health speaks publicly, what he says is important. Our friends in the US make “allowances” for outrageous things Trump says… look where that’s taken them. Let’s be more careful, especially where mental health is concerned…
Still an unacceptable statement from someone who leads an organisation that has been funded by government for youth mental health. And without the proper procurement process. That’s the other half of the story Jessie. If he’d just been some random it wouldn’t have been harmful.
Good on you for promoting the much-needed, ‘let’s just take a breath, eh?’ stance. It’s pretty clear that, regardless of context, the comments from someone who is now - for better or worse - the face of this government’s approach to tackling mental illness amongst rangatahi are very, very damaging. It’s also clear the vitriolic response is influenced by the frustration people feel with the way King’s charity has been funded, and the widespread damage this does to other providers in the sector. It’s not a pretty response, but (and speaking as someone who has lived experience here) the lesson is the same: think before you speak.
Fair comment Jesse and your analysis is certainly worth reading and considering.
With a public profile (like it or not) I think comes a responsibility to choose your words and consider the consequences for others of your espoused views. That’s not to say that you necessarily should temper your views, everybody’s opinion is valid, but rather to speak not in haste but with that extra lenses of “could this be taken the wrong way” and if so, provide clear intent and context.
I appreciated you sharing the wider context of his words.
Many people with an overactive mind use alcohol until they learn a better way. Mental health interventions help to show another way. Pretending it doesn’t happen and cancelling someone for talking about it albeit clumsily is so NZ. Great article Jesse.
This is spot on Jesse. I’m consistently freaked out by the energy and glee exhibited when an online mob and media coalesce around the latest subject of a takedown. What he said is absolutely flawed but there’s a reading of the comments happening that is wilfully cursory and not at all thoughtful.
Thanks Jesse. The beat down on Mike King has been rabid. His comments were controversial but he’s been there in the depths of depression. What King is saying is that people would not turn to alcohol and drugs if they had the support they needed. The solution is not alcohol and drugs, the solution is a fully funded mental health support system.
Except that’s not what he said. He said alcohol is a solution.
I tend to agree. I am thinking of how easy it is to destroy a person in Aotearoa. Thinking of a former Green MP & unproven allegations. But I do think Govt should actually have in place rules as to who gets funding, particularly in mental health arenas because we have huge issues. One solution would be to have housing for our unhoused whānau. Govt should be funding more housing. So many issues that we could be trying to solve…
i do have issues with King, but I did think that he was being ripped for something he didnt really say, in that it was taken out of context. The man is not stupid, why would he say something opposite to what his heart works for. My issue has been the funding, the accountability, the resourcing in terms of other good organisations unresourced, theres a bit of a gravey train maybe.........but from distance, I could get what his drift was, and from an ex addict perspective he was coming from. Just like, and I hate to admit this......some of tRumps electric shark stories were vaguely understandable. May be my adhd brain. Thanks for this call to a bit more grace Jesse. Point taken.
Kia ora Jesse, thank you for your courage. If we are eviscerating Mike King for the impression sloppy word choices can bring - ie the differ gymence between " it keeps us going until some help comes along" and ' it can keep us going until some help comes along' - then we all need to be as discriminating about our own words, research, and the basis for our public judgments. This is not to say that accountability and fairness is not a real issue with the funding. See excellent, recent Spinoff article by Anna Sophia. Thank you for "exercising the muscle of good faith". Most of all, I find this writing reassuring as a good, fair example to model for our public discourse. Ngā mihi, Margi
It’s quite good to get an overall perspective. Thanks Jesse
Bravo - going beyond the headline.
I’m with Jesse on this. Bang on.
👍💯👏Tautoko... I don't like much about the man apart from his character in both dealing with his own addiction & trying to help others, but it was obvious to me what he meant even if a bad "message" from someone in the position he has put himself in 🤷
🙋P. S. As others said, I think part of it is blaming him for what the govt did - no problem with him ASKING for funding & promoting his case {everyone has to do it} but in being successful many worthy groups & services missed out 🤬
Oops typo: 'difference between' not whatever that word was!
I don’t disagree entirely with this.. however when a public figure especially one who is advocating for mental health speaks publicly, what he says is important. Our friends in the US make “allowances” for outrageous things Trump says… look where that’s taken them. Let’s be more careful, especially where mental health is concerned…
I love that you've exercised that muscle Jesse.