Rotary Tractor Trek launch

On the road again: The trek was launched in Cambridge this week, from left: John Bishop (Cambridge Rotary president), Kevin Forgeson (District 9930 District Governor), Cat Levine, Taupo MP Louise Upston, Deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk, Phil Aish (Tractor Trek co-ordinator), David Hulme (Rotary Assistant governor), Daryl Gibbs (Cambridge Middle School principal). Photo: Mary Anne Gill

Daryl Gibbs knows all too well the impact children’s mental health issues are having on society today.

The Cambridge Middle School principal says 140 children from his school – 20 per cent of the roll – had a diagnosis of anxiousness last year.

Speaking at the launch of the Rotary-supported Feeling for Life Tractor Trek at his school on Monday, Gibbs welcomed mental wellbeing educator Cat Levine to the school.

She has developed a programme called Think and Be Me which has resources for teachers and tips for children on how to manage and regulate their feelings.

About 50 per cent of mental health conditions start before a person turns 12 and one in four New Zealand children will experience a mental health issue before they turn 18, she said.

Gibbs, who is vice president of the New Zealand Association of Intermediate Middle Schooling, said he had been talking to government officials about the importance of addressing mental health issues in children.

Cat Levine with one of the tractors touring Waipā the next fortnight to raise awareness of children’s mental health issues. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

He told The News he was fortunate his school board committed $100,000 of its discretionary funding for a resource to assist the growing number of his students identifying as having mental health problems.

It had increased post Covid. “Generally it’s students who are scared and anxious at school,” he said.

Taupō MP Louise Upston, whose three children attended Cambridge Middle School, said it was critical to reach more children with the right messaging.

Parents need to know earlier about mental health issues in their children than they currently do.

“Mental health is so hidden,” she said.

Rotary District 9930 governor Kevin Forgeson said he and his organisation supported the convoy of tractors travelling through the Waikato to raise awareness and funds for children’ mental health education.

Levine’s father Phil Aish started the Tractor Trek initially to raise funds for hospice services after his wife died. He is in charge of the dozen tractors and drivers taking the message out into the Waipā community.

When he grew up, medical skills and vaccinations dealt to many of the health issues children encountered but that path was not available for mental health.

“We can’t just give a pill, we can’t just give an injection,” he said.

“If driving a tractor can make a difference then bring it on.”

Levine has already worked with 9000 children at 60 schools in North Auckland.

“It’s all about teaching them when they’re young.”

Touring the Waikato for a fortnight was “really exciting”, she said.

See: Tractors on a health trek