Mike King

Mike King

Author: RNZ May 29, 2024 Duration: 31:21

Mental health advocate Mike King tells Guyon why taking government cash is like taking money from Gollum; the day he realised his homophobic comedy was doing real damage, and why kids don't talk to their parents about their mental health.

*Content warning: This video contains strong language and references to suicide, self-harm and alcohol.

Watch the video version of the episode here.

Mike King once described himself as an aggressive, politically incorrect, foul-mouthed, standup comedian. Now, he's one of the most high profile mental health advocates in Aotearoa.

In Budget 2024 his charity I am Hope got $24 million to provide free counselling for young people. There’s now a political fight about how the money was awarded.

Guyon Espiner sits down with Mike to ask about that and bigger questions over whether we have a mental health crisis in Aotearoa and how we should deal with it.

The aim of I Am Hope is to “forever change the way New Zealanders think, act and feel about mental health and suicide.” How so?

"And drive positive societal attitudinal change. And that's the key. Our whole Kaupapa is about changing the way people think, act and feel."

"I've been speaking to schools for the last 13 years. I've listened to over 250,000 young people. And here's what I know. 40% of kids in school will have a major crisis associated with some type of suicidal thinking before they leave school. Not in their lifetime - before they leave school.

Which is staggering to a whole lot of people. Guess what? It's normal. We've all had the thought. If you haven't left the house at least once in your life going, what's the point? You're living in a marshmallow."

"The stat that scares me is, 80% of those kids never ask for help. And the reason they never ask for help is because they're worried about what other people will think, say or do. And what's our message to young people who are travelling that journey? Reach out and ask for help! Excuse me?! “I've just told you, I'm scared of sharks. And your solution is to go swim with sharks, and maybe a dolphin will come along!”

So, what needs to change is, we all need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, what am I doing to make it more comfortable for young people to reach out and ask for help?"

"And the answer to that is, we're not doing enough. We're busy telling kids what to do, this is what you need to do. We need to start showing them vulnerability."…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details


In a media landscape often crowded with quick takes and fragmented attention, 30 with Guyon Espiner offers a deliberate alternative. Each episode is built around a single, extended conversation between veteran journalist Guyon Espiner and one person shaping the world we live in. The focus here is on depth, not breadth, allowing for a nuanced exploration of a guest's ideas, experiences, and motivations. As a production from RNZ, this podcast carries a commitment to substantive journalism, presenting these dialogues without editorial cuts or interruptions. What you hear is the full, unfolding discussion-the thoughtful pauses, the challenging questions, and the moments of genuine insight that can only emerge from a sustained, thirty-minute exchange. The guests are drawn from across spheres of influence, including politics, academia, culture, and activism, providing listeners with a direct line to perspectives that inform public life and private conviction. Tuning in means setting aside the noise for a half-hour of focused listening, where the format itself-one guest, no edits-becomes a statement of intent. It’s for anyone who believes that understanding complex figures and issues requires more than a soundbite, preferring instead the texture and authenticity of a complete, unrehearsed conversation.
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