Kim Laurence

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 it took some years before I was able to get the support I needed. My experiences have fuelled 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 Aotearoa 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.