Popular NZ mental health advocate Dr Tom Mulholland dies suddenly

Former Stuff columnist and popular mental health advocate Dr Tom Mulholland has died suddenly.

His death has been referred to the Coroner and is being investigated as a suspected suicide.

News of his death surfaced on Monday night and were confirmed by his children, who posted to Facebook.

Son Tommy Mulholland said arrangements were being made for his father’s funeral in Wellington, which would be confirmed later in the week.

“This is a loss for so many people, and we are all devastated. He has always been an advocate of mental health and dedicated so much of his life to the cause,” he said in a post.

Tributes have been paid to Mulholland, who wrote a regular column for Stuff until 2019, penned two books, hosted TV and radio shows, and ran workplace health seminars, including in Stuff newsrooms across the country.

On Facebook, broadcaster Brooke Howard-Smith said Mulholland was a “hero”.

“We’ve lost one of our best and brightest stars, a tower of purpose who had so many of the necessary tools at his fingertips. He literally wrote books about mental health and wellbeing. He saved lives for a job. People, men, we are still not talking enough. We are still imagining we are alone,” Howard-Smith wrote.

“Dr Tom Mulholland will always be a hero of mine and I’m guessing for the thousands who he inspired and helped, thousands whose lives he changed forever. An incredible life, and in the end the most important lesson. Whatever you are feeling, no matter how alone you are I guarantee others are feeling the same. Please reach out.

“For now, buddy, just know we are so bloody proud of the amazing life you lived and of you. The world is going to miss the hell out of you.”

Medical entrepreneur Sam Hazledine also posted to Facebook: “I’m sad. I’m confused. And to be honest, I’m a bit angry.

“Tom was the definition of ‘larger than life.’ With a gregarious personality and a huge heart, Tom positively impacted the life of anyone he encountered...He was loved by many, including his fiancé and children. He was always on a mission.

“But in the end, I guess that wasn’t enough. He had demons, as we all do, and I guess two days ago they got too much for him. Whether that was an intense spur-of-the-moment thing, or a longer-term thing, I don’t know. But I wish I did know. I wish I’d been a better friend and had pried under that ebullient exterior deeper.”

Hazledine wrote that he’d spoken with Mulholland just a couple of weeks ago.

“He sounded good and we were planning to get together soon. I did ask him how he was, and he gave no indication that he was struggling. Perhaps, ‘how are you?’ isn’t enough. Perhaps we need to ask those we love, ‘how are you, really?’

“I’ll miss that booming voice answering the phone with an enthusiastic, ‘Dr Sam!’ I don’t understand why he’s gone, but I hope that wherever he is that he’s found peace. Goodbye Tom. Love you mate.”

Taranaki Rural Support spokesperson Doug Avery paid tribute to Mulholland who had been a staunch advocate of mental health in the sector.

“Our sympathies and love go to Dr Tom Mulholland’s family at this sad time,” he said.

“His hopes and support of rural families, men in particular, to turn “Lemons into Lemonade” and DYKYN (Do you Know Your Numbers) is a legacy that will continue to ripple throughout rural communities.

“Thank you Dr Tom for your passion, insight, humour and efforts to help others.”

Mulholland got into medicine after entered Otago Medical School in 1985, graduating in 1989.

Mulholland's website said his love of surfing and mountains was behind a move to Taranaki, where he spent 17 years until he left in 2007.

There he was an Orthopaedic and General Surgical Registrar, gained a Diploma in Sports Medicine and started his own general practice and founded Taranaki’s first Accident and Medical Clinic White Cross.

He also started Doctor Global and was the first in the world to do online consultations last century, won numerous business awards and featured on 60 Minutes twice, his website said.

He was also an Emergency Department Doctor and GP for over 25 years and has practised from an Auckland Hospital, rural New Zealand towns, the Chatham Islands and worked in Antarctic, Arctic and Indo-Pacific as a ship's doctor and expedition leader.

More recently, Mulholland had been travelling the country testing thousands of Kiwis in the back of his old Chevy ambulance that his team had transformed into a pop-up medical clinic.

Some of the experiences from these trips featured in his columns on Stuff, which covered topics like workplace burnout and how to avoid it.

“So, to avoid burnout, build in some downtime to recharge and reconnect. It's vital for many reasons. Next time you see a truck driver give them a wave or maybe ask how their day is. If you run a crew or a farm, give them a day off, or take one yourself. It will create resilience and long-term survival of yourself and your business,” he wrote.

In another column he wrote about how spending time with loved ones released happy chemicals.

“There are five pillars of happiness, and without any of these it's hard to be happy in my view. These pillars are friends, family, health, financial security and a sense of purpose.”