$40k raised for forestry mental health

Brought together by the Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA), the charity auction dinner was part of the 2-day Fast and Forward Forestry Expo held last week. FICA CEO Prue Younger says the auction was to raise funds to further mental health initiatives post a pilot programme with Mates4Life, Hawke’s Bay.

“Mental wellbeing is a topical challenge for any workplace in this crazy world and forestry has not escaped from it. FICA wanted to put funds together to initiate a programme to support our forestry whanau,” she says. “The aim is to provide a long-term, sustainable, no barriers suicide awareness and prevention training approach that is specific to the needs of workplaces and communities.”

“The charity auction will help the Forest Industry Contractors Association to set up a programme to support the mental wellbeing of those working within the forestry industry. Mental health doesn’t discriminate and all of us in this room have probably either experienced mental health issues ourselves or watched a friend, relative, or colleague struggle with mental wellbeing. This is a fantastic initiative…” said newly appointed Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell.