The News
Thursday January 29 2015
Page 23
Community gardens bring hope By DAVID HILL Depression among men is a serious issue which is often misunderstood. Rangiora man Bryon Cope has lived with depression for a number of years and is now trying to help other men and women to talk about their plight. Depression is believed to affect one in four people at some stage in their lives and has touched every culture over thousands of years ‘‘but we continue to deny its existence’’. Bryon works for the Christchurch based Depression Support Network and set up a pilot project jointly funded by the Movember fundraising, through the Mental Health Foundation, and the Red Cross to support men in social isolation. As part of the project, Bryon has worked alongside three community gardens in North Canterbury, with the Bringing hope . . . Rangiora Community Garden volunteers were thrilled to receive a $500 Hope Trust at the Rangiora Baptist PHOTOS: SUPPLIED Mitre 10 voucher to support the garden. Church, at Percival House in Rangiora and with the Oxford Community Trust, thanks to the support of Rangiora Landscape and Garden and McAlpines Mitre 10 Mega. He recently received three $500 Mitre 10 vouchers to present to the community gardens. ‘‘There has definitely been an increase in mental health issues since the earthquakes and there’s a lot of complex issues around the housing and costs of living. There’s a lot of good stuff going on as well, but it is easy to ignore that there are some men out there who are really struggling to cope. ‘‘There are men who wouldn’t think they were unwell, but who are really Garden boost . . . Percival House community garden members Chris and Geoff after receiving a $500 Mitre 10 voucher from Depression Support Network peer support worker Bryon Cope (right). (Photo below)
struggling with family breakdowns or the loss of a job.’’ Bryon says often it is the families who make contact asking for help. ‘‘Someone who experiences depression doesn’t always know what’s going on, so how can we explain it to someone else, so it is important if you think someone needs help to speak out. ‘‘We forget that it’s OK to ask for help and it can be anonymous. When men realise they are unwell it can be quite emotional I’ve had grown men cry.’’ Bryon says he recently made contact with a young man who was living in a tree and a tent at the back Pegasus, after losing his job and following a relationship breakdown and receiving no benefit for six weeks. He says the Mental Health Foundation’s five ways to wellbeing (connect, give, take notice, keep learning and be active) is an effective way to manage depression, but talking to someone can certainly help. ‘‘It’s about acknowledging it, communicating, exercise, eating and sleeping.’’ Bryon has spoken about his journey with depression to various groups including Rangiora High School and was due to speak on Compass FM today speaking on ‘‘men and crying’’. ‘‘I talk about my own journey with depression, drugs and my attempt at suicide, and as a peer support worker. ‘‘I still live with depression, but now I have tools to live with it and I know where to get support and ask for help. It’s now a strength.’’ Growing hope . . . Depression Support Network peer support worker Bryon Cope presents a $500 Mitre 10 voucher to Oxford Community Garden and Mens Shed members. (Photo left)
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