Shayne's Charity Bout

$696 donated

Given by 18 generous donors in 6 weeks

Mental illness is something that affects many kiwis. In New Zealand up to 50% of adults have suffered from a mental illness in their lives.

Auckland

Mental disorders, as a group, are the third-leading cause of health loss for New Zealanders (11.1% of all health loss), behind only cancers (17.5%) and vascular and blood disorders (17.5%).

About 'Wood For The Trees'

Mental illness is something that affects many kiwis. In New Zealand up to 50% of adults have suffered from a mental illness in their lives. That could be a colleague, friend or family member. Unfortunately the number of suicides in New Zealand is continuing to rise with 606 last year.

Wood For The Trees is a registered charity on a mission to help kiwis affected by mental illness. To do this they'll be providing funding to community organisations, creating awareness and open dialogue about mental illness, and to remove the stigma associated with it. ‘Can’t see the wood for the trees.’ – Being unable to understand a situation clearly because you are looking too closely at small details, or because you’re too closely involved.

When our whanau or friends ‘can’t see the wood for the trees’ due to mental illness, we need to be aware and offer support.

Shayne Jacobs-Cooke's involvement (page creator)

606 suicides last year is 606 too many. I am involved in this event as no one should have to try to deal with these illnesses alone and no one should have to take their own lives over them. Mental illness and Suicide are growing issue that effects everyone involved and it is going to take everyone to change this. So, by fighting I am hoping to be able to raise awareness of this illness and funds to support the “Wood For The Trees” charity so they can continue their work of helping others. As sometimes as family and friends we cannot understand these situations clearly as we can be looking too closely at small details, or because we are too closely involved so there needs to be other body’s like Wood For The Trees that can be aware and offer support.