Starting Dec 1st 2022 Glen Thurston climbed Lake Hawea’s Corner Peak 53 times in 53 day to raise awareness to the average number of suicides in the construction industry. This campaign dubbed “Turn the Corner” was about encouraging people to be proactive rather than reactive and get educated around mental health so we can all relate and respond to someone in mental distress. It was not about fundraising but rather about raising awareness, creating conversations and normalising the topic of mental health. Using the power of nature, open conversations and sharing his own story he soon had a following bigger than he'd ever imagined. Many of the conversations from the tradies soon moved to the topic of firearms ownership and the fear of seeking help due to the chance revocation of their firearms.

Something very close to Glen as he was a victim of this exact process in 2019. Drawing from his own experience of having his license revoked, Glen recognises the urgent need to address this barrier within the hunting community. Thus, MentalHunts is born as a platform dedicated to fostering understanding and support for firearms owners navigating the delicate intersection of mental health and firearms ownership.

Join us in this short film as we turn the corner on stigma, one step at a time, and pave the way for open conversations and a brighter future for mental health in New Zealand.

Filmed and edited by Ned Brannigan of Introspekt Films.