Tiny army gets ready to wage war on mental health
THE smallest army is gathering its forces in a bid to tackle mental health issues across Aotearoa.
Born from the Warhammer 40,000 hobby group, Crusade for Mental Health is hoping its newest recruits will draw in the big guns to put forward the largest donation to date for mental health charity I Am Hope.
Warhammer 40k, the most popular miniature wargame in the world, hosts a community of creatives and dreamers who build, paint and play the battle game figures to win over opposing armies.
Some players enter the fantasy-sci-fi world for a break from the trials of daily life, a theme that struck a nerve with crusade founder Rick Williams.
Williams, who has depression, realised many of the players faced similar struggles and used the creative side of the game to improve their mental wellbeing, but the stigma around mental health often stopped them from reaching out when they needed help.
‘‘I’ve worked in a healthcare setting before, and I’ve seen the end results of the unfortunate state of mental health in New Zealand,’’ Williams said.
A 2022 Youth2000 survey showed mental health had worsened, with 23% of students experiencing ‘‘significant depressive symptoms’’.
Williams said the stigma around mental health and the underfunding of resources stopped people from reaching out for help.
‘‘It’s because you can’t see it, it’s all in your head. Well, it is in your head, that’s the problem. I thought why don’t we bring this from the background into the forefront of our community.’’
Members of Warhammer 40k have spent hours building and painting the perfect miniatures for the Crusade for Mental Health fundraiser in November.
Last year, the Christchurch-based man put out the call to his fellow commanders of Warhammer 40k to contribute to the crusade, which raised more than $1500 towards the charity after the army was sold to a man in the UK via Trade Me.
This year Williams was hoping to up the ante and gain global traction by posting his more than 100 troops-strong collection for auction on eBay.
Manawatā -man Francisco Guerra and his wife Katharine have been putting the finishing touches on their contribution to the cause.
Guerra, who joined the hobby group in Portugal in 1993 before moving to Aoteaora in 2014, said the game gave him the break he needed from struggles in his life such as the death of his father, and other mental health conditions.
He described his mental wellbeing as a hilltop castle under constant siege, but Warhammer 40k and its community gave his mind a reprieve from the onslaught.
Guerra said he hoped his contribution and that of others would help to raise money for I Am Hope to assist youth in need, and encourage others to speak out and seek help when their castles started to feel the pressure.