The Truth Hurts — But So Does Losing Our Own

Willy McSkimming
2 days ago
2 min read

We’ve had the kōrero. The hard yarns. The uncomfortable truths about suicide and mental health in our sheds. But let’s take it a step further — not just stories and feelings, but facts.

Because behind every tough bastard we lose is a number someone ignored. A sign we brushed off. A statistic that should’ve scared us stiff — but didn’t.

The Stats You Need to Know

The latest data available — from the Office of the Chief Coroner, year ending June 2023 — tells us this:

565 people died by suspected suicide in Aotearoa. That’s 10.6 per 100,000 people.
Māori suicide rate: 16.6 per 100,000. That’s over 1.5 times the rate of non-Māori.
Among Māori youth:
- 53% experienced symptoms of depression.
- 45% had suicidal thoughts in the past year.
- Only 49% reported good wellbeing.

We dug around. This is the most up-to-date info we can get our hands on. These aren’t old numbers — they’re right now. And they paint a picture that’s not pretty.

Rural NZ Is Doing It Bloody Tough

Living and working out here means long hours, bugger-all phone service, and even less access to proper mental health care. In the sheds and on the farms, we pride ourselves on “getting on with it” — but that attitude is wearing people down.

You wait weeks to see a GP, let alone a counsellor.
Isolation becomes normal.
Financial stress, trying to do too much, can't keep up with family life — it all adds up.
And the culture? Still too proud to speak up.

And Then There’s the Shearing Game

Shearing’s tough. Physically, mentally, emotionally.

Crews are always on the move — no real base, no constant support crew.
Early starts, long days, back-breaking work.
And worst of all? Silence.
- “Don’t be soft.”
- “Head down, arse up.”
- “You’ll be right.”

Nah. That shit isn’t cutting it anymore.