Crisis service faces backlash on booze links

‘Conflict of interest’ as business selling alcohol connects with Lifeline. Report by Ruby Macandrew and Andre Chumko.

Whether it’s sports, any music or social event . . alcohol companies are always there with open wallets and it’s a shame we can’t find other avenues. Richie Hardcore above

Mental health campaigners are disappointed by Lifeline Aotearoa’s deal with New Zealand’s largest alcohol company. Lion NZ, which has Speight’s, Lindauer, Corona, and Johnnie Walker among the brands in its stable, is to pilot a new programme, alongside the helpline, called the Zero Suicide Workplace scheme. However, the alliance has ignited debate about the moral and political implications of a mental health venture being sponsored by a business which sells a depressant. The programme would help Kiwi businesses advance their health and wellbeing approaches, build resilience among employees and equip them with suicide awareness skills. The scheme is pitched as the first of its kind, offering a wellbeing platform that caters to the entire business sector. But alcohol harm reduction advocate Richie Hardcore believed Lion was being ‘‘disingenuous’’ in entering the partnership. ‘‘While I’m happy Lifeline gets to keep its services open, because they’re much needed, I do believe that there’s a conflict of interest between Lion . . . whose core product is alcohol, funding a mentalhealth focused helpline,’’ he said. Furthermore, there was a causal relationship between depression and the effects of alcohol, he said. ‘‘A lot of people who are suffering from depression use alcohol in turn to self-medicate. ‘‘We need to be mindful that you might have depression independent of your alcohol consumption, but then if you’re using alcohol to feel better about what you’re experiencing, it can become a [dependency]. ‘‘Or you can have a problem with alcohol that could lead into depression. There’s a two-way street there.’’ The tendency to look to alcohol companies for funding was a real shame, he said. ‘‘Whether it’s sports, any music or social event . . . alcohol companies are always there with open wallets and it’s a shame we can’t find other avenues.’’ The companies were doing it for branding purposes and to ‘‘normalise’’ their products, he said. Lifeline executive director Glenda Schnell understood the misgivings, but said it offered a chance to improve and expand existing services. ‘‘We know there can be an association between mental health issues and addiction or misuse . . . This is an opportunity for us to work alongside them [Lion] and provide some key education and support.’’ She said several other companies had expressed interest in piloting the programme, but Lion was chosen because of its progress on its ‘‘mental health journey’’. Schnell said other businesses would be invited to join the initiative as it was extended nationwide. Alcohol Action NZ (AANZ) chair Dr Geoff Robinson said the partnership, while it appeared wellmeaning, was ironic given alcohol’s link with depression. Statistics presented to an AANZhosted conference by suicide researcher Annette Beautrais showed that between 40 and 60 per cent of suicides globally involved intoxication at the time of death, and alcohol was found to increase the suicide risk six-fold. Lion NZ’s safety and wellbeing leader Andy Graves said his organisation was committed to championing responsible drinking both internally and externally. ‘‘If businesses can equip their people with the skills and resources to aid suicide prevention, we can start making a difference. That has to be a good thing.’’