Kim Laurence

Tēnā koutou

Ko Moehau te maunga

Ko Tikapa te moana

Ko Waihou te awa

Ko Pae o Hauraki te Marae

Ko Ngāti Tamaterā me Ngāti Maru ngā iwi

Ko Kim Laurence tōku ingoa

I was raised on a dairy farm in a small rural community where mental health wasn’t acknowledged and drinking culture was the norm. We were taught to just ‘pull your socks up’ and ‘get on with it’ if having a bad day because there was always work to be done. It felt impossible for me to ask for help when I began struggling with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and disordered eating in my adolescence, and took some years before I was able to get the support I needed. However, my experiences have fueled a desire to help others and make a difference in my whānau and community.

I am a registered psychotherapist with experience working with complex mental health, addictions, personality disorders, and homelessness. I have worked in NZ and abroad, in both public and private sectors, and now hold a strategic role within our national health system. I am passionate about improving access to support, eliminating inequity, and changing the way we think about mental health.

Mates Matter is a fantastic support and resource for our community, and I am privileged to have the opportunity to contribute.