COMMENT: Yesterday was an incredibly tough day for many people, myself included, after learning our TVNZ colleague Greg Boyed had died after battling depression.
I worked with Greg in my first job at TVNZ on Q+A, and then in the rather tumultuous first year on Seven Sharp. Greg was incredibly fun to work with, he had time for everyone and anyone – whether you were a junior producer like myself, or the maintenance guys down in the TVNZ basement, he always had time for a yarn, and boy he was funny. He had a quick witted, dry sense of humour that was sometimes too advanced for even the sharpest.
The news of his death has hit the media family in NZ hard – believe it or not it's a small community of people who are friends, irrespective of which company you work for.
I, like many, would've read hundreds of beautiful tributes and messages of support, but also comments from members of the public who were also hurt by this news, and I totally understand that. People said they'd never been so sad about the death of a complete stranger, but that's just the thing, he wasn't a complete stranger to you.
Greg was one of those presenters who came into your living room every night with a cheeky smile, an air of confidence, and the utmost professionalism in his broadcasting that meant you could trust what he was telling you. He took his job seriously, and his incredible work ethic rubbed off on his colleagues and no doubt the public.
It would've come as a shock to so many that Greg was battling depression – a man with a successful job and a wonderful family, it's hard to fathom that he couldn't go on any longer. But that's the thing, and I applaud his family for the bravery in revealing his depression, because it doesn't discriminate depression, oh no, it attacks the heart and soul of so many New Zealanders, too many New Zealanders.
For so many Kiwis who are struggling to see any other way out, it is our duty to show them there is, it is our duty to talk to them, it is our duty to support them, it is our duty keep this massive problem front and centre and not shy away from the fact that depression is a disease that we shouldn't be scared to deal with.
