Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick spoke yesterday about "the elephant in the room", after the community of Porirua demanded help after six people died in suspected suicides since June.
"Often, it's not really an elephant. It can feel like a black dog that follows one around, sucking the oxygen out of the air, slowing down time or fast-forwarding the clock at such a pace that everything feels like it is going at lightning speed around your ears, blurring shapes and out of grasp," she said in Parliament.
"It can bring paralysis, self-doubt, and cold sweats. You can feel it in your head, but you cannot easily lift the lid and show it to other people, let alone find the word," Ms Swarbrick said.
"In this House, we don't often talk about the breadth and depth and human face of mental health...It makes us uncomfortable. We don't tackle it head on, because we don't have all of the answers. No one does."
Ms Swarbrick spoke about the "devastating loss of six lives in Porirua".
Members of the Porirua community, near Wellington, demanded urgent help after six people died of suspected suicides since June .
Five of the suspected suicides were people under 30, with many of them having left high school only recently, RNZ reported.
"These are the people and communities whose suffering is unconscionable, people and communities who need our support," Ms Swarbrick said.
"Mental illness is messy and complex. There are no simple solutions. Words cannot do justice for those who've lost a loved one. Words alone will never do justice. Action is necessary, and it is urgent."
She called on MPs to implement findings of the mental health and addiction inquiry that is set to be released this month.
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
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7)
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7)
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 (7pm-10pm) or 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 children's helpline (1pm-10pm weekdays, 3pm-10pm 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
Safe to talk National Sexual Harm Helpline - 0800 044 334, www.safetotalk.nz
Victim Support National 24 Hour Helpline 0800 842 846, www.victimsupport.org.nz
Rape Crisis National 24 Hour Helpline 0800 883300
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
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