What gives you hope?
Frank | Te Tai Poutini
Despite facing homelessness and deep personal struggles, Frank holds on to hope by choosing to face life’s challenges with resilience and determination.
“Things are a bit rough for me, but I’m a Coaster and I’ve been brought up pretty tough. Life’s meant to be a challenge, it’s built to be a challenge.
I’m living in a tent and it’s very, very hard to find accommodation, especially in Westport, especially after the floods because a lot of the housing’s gone or been condemned. The unemployment rate is really high. I’m on an unemployment benefit and I’m barely surviving.
I see life as a challenge. I’ve been through a lot. I’ve attempted suicide and tried to hang myself and nearly succeeded. I think after that, my whole view on life changed. All these things can go wrong in your life, but taking your own life – you can never change that. Anything else in your life, anything you have, you can change.
Anything that’s going on in my life at this particular time can change in an instant. For me, it’s about the challenges of life and it’s about facing those challenges and giving it the best blimmen go you can. Things might look crap. People might be giving you a hard time or things can happen that are really, really bad. But that’s only for a season. That’s only for a short time.
We’re only on this earth for a hundred years, and for that hundred years, well it’s by our choices, what we make and what we do with ourselves.”
Where to get help:
- 1737: The nationwide, 24/7 mental health support line. Call or text 1737 to speak to a trained counsellor.
- Suicide Crisis Line: Free call 0508 TAUTOKO or 0508 828 865. Nationwide 24/7 support line.
- Youthline: Free call 0800 376 633, free text 234. Nationwide service focused on supporting young people.
