I am writing in response to the cartoon by Malcolm Walker, titled ‘itchy fingers…’, at the back of the March/April 2024 issue of Architecture NZ. The cartoon depicts someone who has made a submission for a verandah extension, and is then being told it will also ‘trigger’ a requirement for an access ramp, which will trigger a flood report, then an erosion report, etc. The final panel continues the trigger metaphor to show the applicant looking very stressed and pointing a gun to their own head.

For decades, we have appreciated Malcolm’s relevant and insightful contributions to Architecture NZ and other publications, and I think we can all relate to the frustrations experienced in this cartoon. Visual metaphor and exaggeration are also commonly used by cartoonists but, in this case, I found the final image particularly jarring.

New Zealand’s suicide rates are not good. There were 565 suspected self-inflicted deaths in the past year, compared with 341 road deaths in the same time frame. And we have one of the highest youth suicide rates in the OECD. Many people are affected with each death.

In the current climate, with the change of government and projected slowing down of the building industry this year, times will be tough for many, as businesses will fold, and redundancies are already being made. Malcolm’s cartoon provides an opportunity to think about our own mental health, and those around us.

Personally, I have spent many years helping someone through numerous mental health crises and, overall, to better mental health. Even though our health system is very strained, in my experience, help is always only a phone call away, especially in an emergency. And with the right interventions, suicide can be preventable.

So, as the year progresses and beyond, let’s look out for those around us — at home and at work — and let’s also look after ourselves. It’s OK to check in with your colleagues and to offer help, if need be, and it’s also OK to ask for help yourself.

If you’re struggling with your mental health, there are free resources and support agencies you can contact for help. Mental Health New Zealand has free helplines available to call and you can free call or text 1737 for support from a trained counsellor.