June 13, 2017
dpa is a proud sponsor of The Key to Life Charitable Trust and one of the Trust’s projects is The Nutters Club radio show.
The show was recognised in this years Radio Awards, taking away the award for “Best Spoken Programme”. dpa couldn’t be prouder of everyone involved – the following is the full press release which gives an insight of the radio show as well as recognises all the people involved:
A radio show featuring frank and honest discussion around mental health issues, The Nutters Club with Mike King has taken the award for Best Spoken Programmes – Best Daily or Weekly Series at the 2015 New Zealand Radio Awards.
Walking in the shoes of those affected by mental illness himself gives host Mike King a drive and an honesty that is the heart and soul of The Nutters Club.
Broadcast on Newstalk ZB Sunday nights from 11pm to 1 am and funded by New Zealand On Air, The Nutters Club tells it like it is on mental health issues and gives a voice to people, allowing them to speak their minds in a non judgmental atmosphere. Further support is offered on The Nutters Club Facebook page where inspiration, help and support can be found every day.
The Nutters Club was conceived by Mike King 6 years ago and has the support of The Key To Life Charitable Trust. The Trust is a community peer support group, aiming to forever change the way New Zealanders think, act and feel about mental health and suicide. Our goal: zero suicide in New Zealand.
Trust Chairman David Steele says: The Key to Life Charitable Trust is a small group (of volunteers) making a large difference to New Zealanders with mental health issues. The recognition of The Nutter’s Club radio show at the radio awards is a wonderful and humbling achievement. I cannot thank enough the wonderful work of Mike King, who’s vision we are carrying out, Dr David Codyre who brings credibility and mana, Jo King who lives and breathes this cause, Boris Sokratov who administers the show so well and the trustees and supporters who give so selflessly to the cause.
Psychiatrist Dr David Codyre, Mike’s founding co-host on the show says: The Nutters Club has been one of the more effective programmes increasing awareness of and normalising mental health issues to New Zealanders. As a community psychiatrist, I see people who have had significant ongoing mental health struggles, and whose journey to reaching out for help has begun with them hearing the radio show and identifying with the story of a guest.
The combined impact of information, de-stigmatising of mental health issues, and support and hope from others who have struggled with the same issues and recovered, cannot be underestimated. In my times co-hosting the show with Mike, I have been astonished to hear callers who the previous week were desperate and on the edge, but a week later were in a far better place and on the road to recovery. Such is the power of this innovative mental health promotion initiative. Long may it live!
The trust would like to thank General Manager of Talk Programming Dallas Gurney; NZ On Air Community Broadcasting Manager Keith Collins; Mike and his frequent contributors Malcolm Falconer, Kyle Mac Donald, David Codyre, and Richie Hardcore; the talented team behind the scenes; and most importantly all of our guests who bare their souls and share their stories in the knowledge that by doing so, they provide hope and inspiration for people who need it, week after week!
