As part of a weekly showcase of future leaders and inspirational young New Zealanders from the Hyundai Pinnacle Programme, a student-led initiative in Canterbury is making men’s mental health a priority – and fun
Olivia Murphy was raised on a farm near Te Ānau. George Glover grew up working the vineyards in Marlborough. Murphy was on a path to competitive show jumping before a career-altering concussion saw her pivot into a law and international business degree. Glover is two years into a double degree in psychology and commerce. He’s also training for a 300-kilometre ocean swim from Ōtautahi Christchurch to Te Waiharakeke Blenheim, during which he hopes to raise $100,000 for the mental health charity I Am Hope. The University of Canterbury students have been on strikingly different paths so far but have both been led to the same place: Lads Without Labels.
Affectionately referred to as Lads, the not-for-profit entity is dedicated to improving men’s mental health in and around the campus. “There’s this thing at university that guys will only ever open up and get vulnerable after a box of Billy Mavs [bourbon and cola for the older generations],” says Murphy. “I think if we can solve that, we can solve many bigger issues.”
READ MORE IN THE SERIES: * Tamara Stratton is engineering humanitarian solutions * Making a stand * Against the Flow * Kate Higham wants to turn the tide on global warming
As president (Glover) and partnerships coordinator (Murphy) in 2022, they worked in an 18-strong team to raise money for student counselling. These Lads-funded sessions can get people in front of a counsellor online within 12 hours or in person in 24 – the standard wait for a university-facilitated appointment is three weeks. “You can’t tell someone to put their feelings on hold for three weeks,” says Murphy succinctly. It’s a heavy topic, but the club makes it approachable and fun through its events, seminars and support.
Last year the group launched its Lifeskills for Lads series, hosting sessions on topics as diverse as skincare, financial literacy, how to change a tyre and sewing. They also just wrapped up Running 72, the charity’s biggest annual fundraiser, which highlights that – according to Coronial Services of New Zealand statistics – 72 percent of deaths by suicide in 2019-20 were male. Students partake in a relay for life – a 72-hour, non-stop run around a campus field. A “wellbeing R&V’’, as Glover puts it, the event is a chance to “show the world that we students give a sh*t about each other’s wellbeing and that we are here for the men in our lives”.
What drew you to Lads Without Labels?
George Glover: It’s a great opportunity to equip people with the tools to deal with what’s going on up top.
Olivia Murphy: I got somewhat accidentally involved. I was having a go at the boys, saying they could have got bigger sponsors, and they said, “If you think you can do it better, then come on our team.” So I said, “Well, okay.”
How do you hope the organisation helps others?
GG: My big thing is getting blokes talking to blokes. It’s great to confide in your girlfriend or girl best friend, but your boys are there, so rant to them and talk it out. I think giving guys those skills to help their mates is incredibly important.
OM: Our mission is to create true systemic change and positively change men’s mental health, ultimately lowering that suicide statistic. I also hope we can give people a place to connect and talk about their mental health and learn how to help themselves.
Is it a cause that’s personally impacted you or those around you?
OM: My dad was a policeman in rural Southland, where we have one of the highest male suicide rates in the country, so I always had that peripheral awareness that Dad would come home in a funny mood when something happened.
Why is the male-centred approach important?
OM: There’s a very specific problem here requiring a direct approach to fix it. We can work in this niche to make a change.
GG: All you need to do is look at the statistics and realise we need to do something – now.
Where are we going wrong with men’s mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand?
GG: Everybody’s been told to listen, but no one’s been given the skills to talk about it. Most of the time, the best people to help you are your mates, so we need something in our toolboxes to help each other out.
OM: I think we have a very set idea of masculinity: sport, strong, farmer, independent. And I believe that all the praise that goes into this “ideal man” is probably resulting in many men that are pretty isolated and, as a result, lonely.
What’s been your most memorable event?
GG: Running 72 is just awesome. It brings together the university in a way I’ve never seen; it’s almost like a school sports day vibe.
OM: I loved Party Waves, where everyone came out to New Brighton beach on a Saturday morning for a swim, surf and barbecue. It was great to catch up but also pretty impressive to see so many uni students up on a Saturday morning.
How much did you raise at Running 72 last year?
GG: Roughly $12,000, which we’ll split about 80-20: 80 percent of the funds will go into setting up a supplementary counselling service for tertiary students, and the remaining 20 percent will run our initiatives.
There’s a prize for running with the “weirdest object”. What did you see?
GG: The year before last, someone took one of our mate’s doors off his room and ran with that. Then there was a fence, a gas bottle and a bloke with a wheelbarrow. The slowest lap was 3.5 hours last year – it’s only a 1.76-kilometre loop. He used the time to watch all the lectures he had to catch up on and then Black Panther.
George, you stepped down as president at the end of last year. Will you stay with Lads?
GG: Yeah, I’m just moving over to an HR role. I think it will be awesome if students from other universities approach us to set up their own organisation, so I’d like to help with that too.
Have you begun to think about your post-university plans?
GG: I’m still not sure; maybe sports psychology, and I want to continue swimming. But I’ll definitely travel. I know that much.
OM: Ultimately, I want to work with people, helping to improve their lives.
