“This is something I have trouble understanding.
“There are so many questions but the biggest one is why didn’t he reach out for help,” Herlihy said.
Michael’s suicide propelled his family into the mental health discussion.
Herlihy well knows his is just one story of hundreds of families whose lives have been affected by suicide.
His family joined forces with their community to make a stand so their and other families’ experiences would be shared.
“We are choosing to embrace the word prevention as we are wanting to help people before they lose any sense of hope for their future.”
Ironically, Michael, just 20 at the time, was due to line up with his brothers to attempt an all-brother, six-stand, eight-hour shearing record.
Two years on Herlihy is lining up to help raise mental health awareness and prevent suicide.
On March 23 at 10am a group of North Canterbury farmers, shearers and agribusiness representatives will line up on the shearing board.
“Our main goals is let people know it’s okay to reach out for help no matter who you are or what you do.”
It will be the second time for Herlihy in such an event.
Two years ago in his home town of Taranaki a similar event raised more than $20,000.
“While we hope to raise some dollars to support mental health organisations the main objective is to raise awareness.
“It’s not about trying to beat anything. It’s about preventing suicide,” Herlihy said.
Having lived and worked in North Canterbury for the past five years he had identified a need for such an event in the region.
“Canterbury was hit really hard with suicide last year.
“It affects so many people, so many families and friends – it is something really close to me.”
The 24-hour shearathon to be held at the White Rock woolshed on Quarry Road, near Rangiora, will run to 10am on March 24.
The plan is to shear 4500 sheep with blade shearing also a part of the event.
“We could have up to 12 shearers in action at any one time. We may have to pace ourselves to make the sheep last round the clock.”
The big call out is for people to turn up to watch and learn.
“We want as many people as possible to come along. They can help, they can watch and they can learn.
“You don’t need to know anything about shearing, we’d just love to get a good crowd.”
There will be an auction at the end and there will be guest speakers on the Saturday, including NZ Young Farmers mental health advocate Sam Robinson from Methven.
Robinson made an impact on the mental health and wellbeing landscape for rural youth when he shared his own near-fatal battle with depression.
The young over-achiever and former Mt Hutt College head boy was a smart high school student driven by his future career prospects until he stumbled on his own pathway of expectation.
The once confident young man, Robinson, now 27, began to experience depression in 2008. He hit rock bottom in 2016.
His story is a gutsy one that solicited huge support nationwide.
Using his own experience Robinson, a Lincoln University student, set in motion a positive chain of events that led to young people speaking up and NZ Young Farmers taking a leading role in highlighting mental health awareness.
“We are very excited to have Sam coming to speak – he will be a highlight.”
Four main key recipients have been tagged to benefit from the funds raised – Lifeline, Through the Other Side Trust, Taranaki Retreat and He Waka Tapu.
MORE:
Information about the help groups is on the shearathon facebook page
Anyone willing to help should also visit the page
Donations: givealittle.co.nz/cause/24-hour-shearathon-for suicide-prevention
