Actor shares story of depression
‘‘Crying is better than dying.’’
That is the message from Kaikohe actor Rob Mokaraka who is sharing his journey of healing and self-discovery with depression.
An acclaimed actor and playwright, Mokaraka had undiagnosed depression when in 2009, he approached armed police with a meat cleaver in an attempted suicide in Auckland. He was shot and later pleaded guilty to four charges relating to the incident.
Mokaraka will perform his oneman show Shot Bro, Confessions of a Depressed Bullet in Kaikohe on April 7. He describes it as a black comedy that is entertaining and educational about his real life fight with depression.
‘‘If you don’t talk about what is going on, you are going to have a mental breakdown - for men in particular they need to know crying is better than dying. There is an unwritten law in NZ that you need to harden up, shut up and get on with it - which idiot implemented that staunch philosophy?’’
Mokaraka says taking the oneman performance around New Zealand has been healing. ‘‘It has been humbling and just really real, it made me realise this silent epidemic [suicide] is nationwide.’’
Having already performed in Kaikohe and Kaitaia, Mokaraka will this time be involved as part of Upsurge 2017, the Bay of Islands Arts Festival.
‘‘It is definitely special performing around the north. It is my spiritual home. Those communities especially are really hurting, the teen suicides are ripping through them.’’
Each performance is followed by an open forum to ‘‘keep audiences safe’’.
‘‘With every show we open up a kettle of fish and they want to talk and reflect on what they have just watched and see what resonated.’’
The messages people are receiving from the show, Mokaraka says, are that they deserve love, that they are worthy and it’s ok to talk about depression and suicide, and that there is so much hope.
He says mental health advocate Mike King has inspired him to keep going.
‘‘He’s very knowledgeable and knows how to implement things on the ground level in communities. He is inspirational and a beacon of hope for thousands and I’m one of them - he’s my beacon. The more he talks the more he gives others permission to speak up.’’
Shot Bro, April 7, 7pm, Kaikohe RSA. Tickets 09 4070260 or turnercentre.co.nz
Lifeline (open 24/7) 0800 543 354, Depression Helpline (open 24/7) 0800 111 757.