King Cass walks it like he talks it for awareness
Christchurch-based musician Hunter Wilson, aka King Cass, is open with his past – from the traumatic to the inspirational.
‘‘When I was 10, my mother attempted suicide. Twice.’’
In his 20s, he was using drugs and attempted suicide ‘‘a few times’’.
But his break came a few years ago, after a stint in recovery. His mum had taken him to hospital, to check him into recovery.
‘‘It was a whole 180,’’ Wilson said.
Now he spends his time making ‘‘awareness’’ hip-hop and speaking to youth, telling his life story.
‘‘It was my lived experience to make a difference and get other people to make a change.’’
Wilson is bringing his unique brand of music to the capital during HopeWalk.
Run by the Samaritans, the HopeWalk around Wellington Botanic Gardens is an event raising awareness of the effect that a suicide has on families as well as promoting suicide prevention.
This isn’t Wilson’s first time at HopeWalks – he’s already performed at two this year, one in Christchurch and one in New Plymouth. His music carries messages,
mostly about suicide awareness, and his new album, Awakening, draws inspiration based on his own experiences.
He hoped to take his message as wide as possible and was looking to work with other Kiwi musicians, using awareness as a theme in music.
This weekend’s HopeWalk marks Mental Health Awareness Week. The Samaritans have put out a call for Wellingtonians to gather in the botanic gardens, decked out in yellow, and take either a 15-minute flat walk, or a 30-minute hilly one.
Samaritans board chairman Peter Barker hoped the walk would remind those who felt like they had nobody they could talk to that they were never alone.
Between July 2017 and June 2018, 668 people in New Zealand took their own lives.
HopeWalks take place all around the country, as well as in cities across the Pacific region.
The Samaritans provide a 24/7 helpline service for people needing someone to talk to – whether it’s about feelings of anxiety or depression, a relationship breakdown, financial stress, or for other reasons.