Larry Williams Drive

I'm not altogether surprised that Mike King’s comments on this show yesterday have sparked a debate. The reason I'm not surprised is because some of what he said is factually wrong. King claimed alcohol wasn't a problem for people with mental health issues - but rather, a solution. Remember, we are talking about suicide. For people with suicidal ideation, alcohol is a problem because it lowers inhibitions, meaning people are more likely to act on their feelings. And it’s a depressant, it lowers your mood, it makes you more unhappy. But some of what he said - to be fair to him - is also his own lived experience in trying to cope with his mental health issues. He said he's a drug addict and alcoholic and his whole life, he used drugs and alcohol to stop that little voice inside his head. You can’t argue with that as much, because that is his experience. And there is actually evidence that alcohol does provide a mental escape in the moment. What I'm a little surprised by is the strength of the reaction to Mike K