Service steps up in stressful time
Isolated, lacking support and not able to see his children, Ryan* didn’t know where to turn.
Suicidal thoughts had started to creep in with isolation compounding the issue.
Family members encouraged him to reach out for help and gave him the number of a free counselling service provided by Male Support Services Waikato during lockdown.
When he first spoke to counsellor Ngarongo Ormsby and was asked how he felt – one being fine and 10 being he wanted to jump off the Sky Tower without safety on, he said 10. Now, weeks on,
Ryan is at a two.
Ormsby is one of many counsellors working with the service to provide free counselling during these unprecedented times for not only men, but women and children, too.
A wide variety of people used the service, from single mothers to elderly parents and isolated men, Ormsby said.
Even though everyone was different, there were still common themes.
‘‘What is common is stress, anxiety and the anxiety is the fear of the unknown.’’
People losing their jobs, income restrictions and rent woes also contributed.
‘‘Those things we take for granted are amplified and cause arguments and relationship difficulties.’’
No issue was too unusual either, with one caller seeking help as she was struggling with a haunted house.
Ormsby said he helped the woman cleanse her house over the phone and kept in contact to make sure she was okay.
Because it’s a locally funded service they could provide more than just phone support, with families benefiting from food vouchers, phone credit to help.
The service is being delivered by Male Support Services Waikato and manager Mike Holloway said they would be providing it for as long as it was needed.
It was not just offered to Waikato residents, but also Bay of Plenty and King Country.
They had been funded by different community groups, including Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate, the Gallagher Group and Hamilton City Council. Counsellors were also working at a reduced rate.
Seeing the service in action was great, Male Support Services Waikato chairman Matt Watson said.
They were planning to increase their footprint to the Bay of Plenty and King Country this year anyway, so Watson said this was a good time to start.
To access the service, dial 0800 677 289 and select option 0. You will need to give your name and contact number – either to the person who answers or in a message – and it will be allocated to a counsellor to make contact.
The service aims to contact everyone within 24 hours.