Why Firearms Owners Are Scared to Speak Up About Mental Health with Glen Thurston
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In this powerful episode of Becoming a Bowhunter, host Matty sits down with Glenn Thurston, founder of Mental Hunts from New Zealand, to explore the complex relationship between firearms ownership and mental health. Glenn shares his personal journey of struggling with depression, alcoholism, and suicidal ideation—culminating in a life-changing moment when his firearms license was revoked after he sought help from a mental health professional. This experience exposed a broken system where seeking help leads to punishment rather than support, creating a chilling deterrent for others. Glenn details how the post-Christchurch 2019 legislation, while well-intentioned, created fear among law-abiding firearm owners, leading to a dangerous decline in people seeking mental health care. He recounts how this systemic failure has likely contributed to a rise in preventable suicides. Through his advocacy, Glenn has worked tirelessly with government officials and regulators to push for a more balanced, case-by-case approach to firearm licensing, emphasizing that mental health is not a one-size-fits-all issue. He champions hunting as a powerful form of mental wellness—comparing it to meditation—and highlights how the five pillars of wellbeing (connect, be active, give, take notice, keep learning) are all naturally fulfilled through the hunting experience. The episode ends with a call to action: to normalize mental health conversations, support one another proactively, and recognize that seeking help is not a sign of weakness but a courageous act of self-preservation.
Seeking mental health support should not result in losing your firearms license—this creates a dangerous deterrent to help-seeking.
Hunting is a powerful, natural form of mental wellness that fulfills all five pillars of wellbeing: connect, be active, give, take notice, and keep learning.
A case-by-case, individualized assessment is essential—mental health is too broad to be a blanket reason for license revocation.
Proactive mental health care, including therapy, medication, nutrition, and lifestyle changes, is a sign of strength, not weakness.
The stigma around mental health is perpetuated by misinformation and fear; education and storytelling are key to changing the narrative.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Five Ways of Wellbeing and the Power of Hunting
“Hunting is our five ways of wellbeing in one word, hunting. We don't need five ways to wellbeing. We just get hunting.”
Glenn's Personal Journey: From Rock Bottom to Advocacy
“I was drinking to celebrate, I was drinking to cope, I was drinking to numb. It was just a coping mechanism.”
The License Revocation: When Seeking Help Became Punishment
“I was doing everything by the book to stay fit and proper, and then I was punished for it. It was like, this is just not right.”
The Broken System: Fear, Stigma, and the Silence of Hunters
Glenn explains how the current system creates a climate of fear, where hunters avoid seeking help due to the risk of losing their licenses. He reveals alarming statistics showing that only a tiny fraction of mental health notifications lead to revocations, suggesting a massive underreporting of mental health struggles.
Mental Hunts: Building a New Framework for Mental Wellness
Glenn details the creation of Mental Hunts, a movement focused on education, storytelling, and policy change. He highlights the importance of separating mental health from violent extremism and advocates for a more balanced, compassionate system.
“I was doing everything by the book to stay fit and proper, and then I was punished for it. It was like, this is just not right.”
“The real danger isn’t firearms—it’s the lack of support and the failure to treat mental health as a priority.”
“Hunting is our five ways of wellbeing in one word, hunting. We don't need five ways to wellbeing. We just get hunting.”
Host
Guest
New Zealand
place
Glenn Thurston
person
Matty
person
Mental Hunts
organization
Australia
place
Cayuga Broadheads
brand
Christchurch Massacre
other
Wanaka Sauna
place
Jabstick Outdoors
brand
Bondi Attack
other
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