Four Alexandra women climbed Lake Hāwea’s Corner Peak in January to promote mental health conversations, and their climb and the 53 day-long campaign has been made into a short film, aired in Wānaka this week.

Breen health and safety manager Almari Rohlandt, who took part in the campaign, said watching the film brought back good memories.

“What a climb and what a cause. I felt such a sense of accomplishment together with everyone else.”

This reporter, who also completed the climb, found the film inspiring, showing how time spent in the mountains and outdoors is another avenue to keep important conversations about mental health going.

Late last year Wānaka builder Glen Thurston set out to climb Lake Hāwea’s Corner Peak 53 times - matching the number of people in the construction industry who take their lives each year. 

What Glen didn’t expect was that almost 300 people would join him across the 53 climbs.

The achievement, captured in Turn the Corner by director Ned Brannigan, started new conversations about mental health and has spurred other opportunities for Glen to help change New Zealand’s tight-lipped culture around the topic.

Glen featured on The Outlet episode 10, free to listen to here.

The film is about to head nationwide, it has been selected for the NZ Mountain Film Festival tour. 

Read more: Conquering Corner Peak for mental health.

Mental health challenges are increasingly felt by people in New Zealand. 

According to Statistics New Zealand, one in five employees report always or often being stressed by work.   

Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) website states every year approximately 185,000 people are accessing specialist and non governmental organisation services for mental health or addiction issues.

Find information on Health & Wellbeing, including helplines on The Central App Mental Wellbeing button.