Nine To Noon for Friday 28 October 2022

 

 

09:05 Suicide amongst Doctors

There's growing concern for the mental health and wellbeing of doctors and medical specialists navigating a stressed health sector. In an editorial published in the NZ Medical Journal today, burnout, depression and anxiety are increasingly common diseases amongst doctors, impairing their ability to perform at work and home and cope with life stressors. Roger Mulder co wrote the piece titled Suicide Amongst Doctors. He is a Professor of psychological medicine at University of Otago (Christchurch) and a consultant liaison psychiatrist in the public health system.
Professor Mulder is concerned the under-resourced health system may also be resulting in some physicians taking their own lives. But he says national suicide statistics are not broken down by profession - and that must change. He says in the interests of safety and wellbeing the medical profession needs to turn the lens on itself and and measure doctor suicide, which is always historically higher amongst women practitioners.
 

 

09:20 Massive growth in vape retailers fuelling youth epidemic

Some vape products are being sold with much more nicotine than legally allowed -  leading to the Government issuing an urgent safety alert this week. This comes as public health experts sound the alarm at the growing number of vape shops around the country --  300 new stores opening up since February alone. Some vape products here can legally contain more than double the amount of nicotine than is allowed in the United Kingdom and Europe. Under New Zealand regulations, vapes can have up to 50 micro grams of nicotine salts, but some retailers have been interpreting that as allowing 50mg of freebase nicotine - which is actually limited to 20 micro grams. Retailers will now have to pull offending ones off the shelves or face enforcement action. The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation says vape products are far too easily accessible, too visible and this is fuelling the epidemic of youth vaping. Letitia Harding is the chief executive of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation. Also with us public health researcher professor Janet Hoek.
 

09:30 Short Story winners revealed

Our Short Story competition judges, writers Harry Ricketts and Rebecca Reilly, announced the five winners of the 2022 Nine to Noon Short Story competition.

09:45 Asia correspondent Ed White

There's been high drama in Beijing at the conclusion of  the Chinese Communist party five-yearly party congress. Ed talks to Kathryn about how any hopes of reconciliation between the west and China now fading. And there are signs that rich Chinese are pulling the trigger on escape plans as concerns mount over Xi's economic direction. Also, North Korea has been warned against a dangerous nuclear test, but people seem more concerned with the break up of superstar boyband BTS as they join the South Korean military.

Ed White is a correspondent with the Financial Times.

10:05 Grace Tame: Australian of the Year 

In 2021 Grace Tame was named Australian of the Year for her advocacy work for survivors of sexual assault. When Grace was 15 years old, she was groomed and sexually abused by her 58-year-old maths teacher. Nicolaas Bester was jailed twice, once for the abuse, and again when he boasted about his actions on Facebook. Through the Grace Tame Foundation, she has successfully campaigned for an end to the victim gag laws which silenced her and prevented her from telling her story, launching the #LetHerSpeak campaign and the March4Justice. So far Queensland, Tasmania and Northern Territory have reformed these laws and she now has her sights set on Victoria. And she's now told her story in a memoir called The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner. 

10:35 Book review: Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North by Rachel Joyce

Catriona Ferguson reviews Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North by Rachel Joyce, published by Penguin

10:45 The Reading

11:05 New music with Jeremy Taylor

A wonderful compilation of black music from 60s Britain, the new pop smash from Taylor Swift, and a 20th anniversary for the Libertines debut.
 

11:30 Sports commentator Sam Ackerman

Sam Ackerman talks about the real question left unanswered by the scheduling blunder for the Black Ferns and All Blacks, a landmark week in Secondary Schools rugby and what can rain on the Black Caps parade at the T20 World Cup.
 

11:45 The week that was

Comedians Te Radar and Elisabeth bring a few laughs

 

 

Music played in this show

Artist: The Big Moon
Track: Two Lines 
Time played: 10.35am