Gumboot Friday is a mental health initiative in New Zealand founded by Mike King, a former comedian turned tireless mental health advocate. The campaign raises funds to provide free counselling for young people, filling a gap left by the overstretched public mental health system. Its name comes from the metaphor that for people struggling with depression, life can feel like walking through mud every day — hence, wearing gumboots becomes a symbol of solidarity.
Mike King has become a polarising yet important figure in the mental health space. He speaks bluntly, often with irreverence, about the realities of mental illness, addiction, and the hypocrisies of the systems meant to support us. One of his more controversial statements was that alcohol is “useful” — a comment that sparked debate, but also reflected a deeper truth.
I agree with him. Alcohol can be useful — in the same way fire is: it can warm or burn, soothe or scar. For many of us, alcohol has been a coping mechanism. Not ideal. Not always healthy. But real. A way to soften the edges of unbearable thoughts. A liquid companion when support structures are absent, therapy is unavailable, and emotions are overwhelming.
Positives of this perspective include:
- Acknowledging the role substances can play in survival.
- Destigmatising the conversation around addiction and self-medication.
- Creating space for honesty, not moral judgement.
Negatives include:
- The risk of normalising dependence and dismissing long-term harm.
- Undermining efforts toward healthier, more sustainable coping tools.
- Confusion for younger or more vulnerable people who may interpret “useful” as “safe.”
At the same time, I believe the amount of government funding given to Mike King and Gumboot Friday appeared excessive and lacked transparency. There didn’t seem to be an open, contestable process — raising questions about equity and fairness, particularly for other organisations doing vital mental health work with fewer resources and less publicity.
Conclusion
Gumboot Friday is a bold, necessary initiative that dares to meet people where they are — in the mud. Mike King’s honesty, including his take on alcohol, is uncomfortable for some because it’s unfiltered. But that’s where change starts: in the raw truth, not the polished version.
Still, if we’re serious about improving mental health in Aotearoa, we need open, equitable funding processes — and a willingness to invest in a diversity of approaches. No single voice should dominate the conversation. Especially when so many are still unheard.
