Veitch sentenced

[candor]

Absolutely. Going for a drive down the Waikato expressway from Auckland and parking up in the first right hand side road one finds hardly smacks of a concerted attempt to "disappear". Particularly after one has rung every media outlet in christendom and most emergency services prior to leaving home.

Most people in a suicidal state of mind are ambivalent (conflicted with a death and life wish). At a guess only 5% at risk would be fully decided, and these plan well to complete plan, and don't extend a lifeline of distress signals.

This is why a standard mental health work intervention is to ask people for a commitment to contact others if feeling on the brink of acting on the thoughts. Getting a gold medal in that does not imply no risk is/was present.

One of his attempts was concerning in this vein - the car gassing in a remote spot was possibly quite serious a risk. And likely has him on an agreement to notify someone / anyone if close...

The media seems to be something hes attached to just like many men are overly bouind up identity wise to their job. Also its safe to asume in his mind it is parts of the media persecuting him - which is likely why thats who he contacts "in times of trouble". Telling them to publish an e-ml he thinks exonerates him of media charges against his character after hes dead (momentarily) could fit well with some of the more nasty egotistical suicide attempts that try to leave others feeling guilty.

Many attempts in males are misdirected rage which is why males use more violent methods - men hang or bang, women overdose.

Hes not stable - and I doubt the cynical interpretation offered on this thread that he is just trying to set up the mental damages component required for a successful defamation case. There would be no need to go this far overboard and it stretches credibility a bit to think he'd be THAT calculating. His Dr would no doubt vouch for his instability already before the last few days activities.

PS there is a really bizarre thread on yahoo xtra about 50 pages long "Veitch beats the girl and the system" that has taken a bizarre tangent into a long discussion of KDP wearing high heels to court (after a back injury) - the verdict sems to be she couldn't or shouldn't and that really noone should wear them. From the sublime to the ridiculous...

[Lula]

Hope he got his $150K hush money back

I'd take a hiding for $150k - not sure how good he'd come off though

[Beemer]

Absolutely. Going for a drive down the Waikato expressway from Auckland and parking up in the first right hand side road one finds hardly smacks of a concerted attempt to "disappear". Particularly after one has rung every media outlet in christendom and most emergency services prior to leaving home.

Yeah, where's Philip Nitschke (the man known as Dr Death) when you need him?

[Hitcher]

Hes not stable - and I doubt the cynical interpretation offered on this thread that he is just trying to set up the mental damages component required for a successful defamation case. There would be no need to go this far overboard and it stretches credibility a bit to think he'd be THAT calculating. His Dr would no doubt vouch for his instability already before the last few days activities.

Veitch has proven through his behaviours to be conniving, cunning, manipulative and deceitful. Consequently I am of the view that his "suicidal" behaviour and attempts at irrationality are merely a guise to attract public sympathy that his previous strategy failed to do. I believe that people are being far too kind by endeavouring to ascribe some sort of mental illness to him. I think that that belittles the plight of people with genuine mental illnesses.

[forkoil]

Oh fer christs sake, leave the poor bastard alone will yus all .....

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

Veitch has proven through his behaviours to be conniving, cunning, manipulative and deceitful. Consequently I am of the view that his "suicidal" behaviour and attempts at irrationality are merely a guise to attract public sympathy that his previous strategy failed to do. I believe that people are being far too kind by endeavouring to ascribe some sort of mental illness to him. I think that that belittles the plight of people with genuine mental illnesses.

Like I've said he's a PD. Fits the profile like a glove. Not long now and he should be able to command quite a high price for his 'story' provided it told his way and on his terms otherwise.........more toys out the cot!

[ital916]

Veitch has proven through his behaviours to be conniving, cunning, manipulative and deceitful. Consequently I am of the view that his "suicidal" behaviour and attempts at irrationality are merely a guise to attract public sympathy that his previous strategy failed to do. I believe that people are being far too kind by endeavouring to ascribe some sort of mental illness to him. I think that that belittles the plight of people with genuine mental illnesses.

It is saddening to read that. My father is a psychiatrist and having grown up around the specialisation I can tell you it is not so clear cut as that. Those traits you describe are human traits...keyword human.

Many people, from felons to good upstanding citizens can suffer from a mental ilness. I have had friends who have suffered from clinical depression and can tell you that some of them were conniving, had tempers and were not perfect but for not one second did I ever say they did not deserve help.

Mental illnesses can work in ways that are still confusing to many, the human mind, its behavioural patterns and actions are still largely uknown *hence psychiatry is knows as the experimental science*.

[Beemer]

I'm sorry, but Veitch does not appear to have exhibited ANY of these traits UNTIL the news he had kicked his partner while she was on the floor came to the attention of the public.

No reports of a troubled childhood and no reports of any suicidal thoughts during his time on tv. No, only when he lost his 'mana' by giving his partner the bash and subsequently losing his job did he suddenly think of topping himself.

Apparently her wedding photos are in one of the women's magazines this week. Next week I suppose it will be a tour of Veitch's tragic places where he tried to say goodbye cruel world...

Tui anyone?

[candor]

Veitch has proven through his behaviours to be conniving, cunning, manipulative and deceitful. .

I agree but not all of what seems to be his manipulation is likely emanated from him. Lawyer + spin Dr renowned in the community for dirty play. A victim of himself and in near equal measure of seedy advice imo.

As noted above being conniving and mentally ill are not mutually exclusive. People with certain non coping and annoying types of personalities (a mental disorder if not illness under the mental health actdefinition) can be even more prone to depression (mental illness) or poor cognitive processing (which can be compounded by the sluggishness of depression).

For these reasons I'd not rule out there is real suicidality, even if an element of attention seeking may be apparent within that. It may be a good thing for his family if liking attention makes it easier to track his welfare. Where was the need for the media though to publicise it all - why not just refer calls to mental health or other appropriate places. It does not take all news readers to answer the call for help nor do we need to know about it.

Is NZ so short of news - I question journalism ethics in running such private stories inconsequential to the public - and recall that woman who suicided after sensationalist hounding over a sex case a while back.

[Hitcher]

Is NZ so short of news - I question journalism ethics in running such private stories inconsequential to the public - and recall that woman who suicided after sensationalist hounding over a sex case a while back.

Veitch has plied his trade as a celebrity. Celebrities are public figures who consciously opt in to the whole Woman's Day nonsense. Veitch has chosen to forego his rights to privacy, otherwise why would he have called at least one newspaper regarding his latest escapade? Live by the sword, die by the sword.

And I am struggling to recall the suicide to which you refer.

[candor]

Debbie Gerber was the name I think. A victim about which there was mud slinging, talked of jumping the ditch but then soon after quietly suicided.

[Beemer]

...It may be a good thing for his family if liking attention makes it easier to track his welfare. Where was the need for the media though to publicise it all - why not just refer calls to mental health or other appropriate places...

Veitch himself sent a text to the media - knowing full well that they would run it as a story. If he really did want help, he'd call a friend or family member and tell them where he was and what he planned to do.

I feel sorry for his wife - quite aside from the fact I feel sorry for her being married to him in the first place - he is putting her through hell. The family calling for the media to leave them in peace is a little late - he obviously consented to the Sunday story, the shorts I saw on tv didn't appear to have been filmed covertly.

A bit like the little boy crying wolf. I know it sounds harsh to say this, but if he does end up topping himself, I really doubt there will be much sympathy for him from the general public.

[forkoil]

Veitch himself sent a text to the media - knowing full well that they would run it as a story. If he really did want help, he'd call a friend or family member and tell them where he was and what he planned to do.

I feel sorry for his wife - quite aside from the fact I feel sorry for her being married to him in the first place - he is putting her through hell. The family calling for the media to leave them in peace is a little late - he obviously consented to the Sunday story, the shorts I saw on tv didn't appear to have been filmed covertly.

A bit like the little boy crying wolf. I know it sounds harsh to say this, but if he does end up topping himself, I really doubt there will be much sympathy for him from the general public.

Obviously not from you (or your sympathisers) at least. And the media doesnt gain out of this. Why the hell did the Herald run the stories on the front page about the character references? Cant they just let it lie. Personal dislike for someone is no excuse for wishing them dead

[Winston001]

I'm sorry, but Veitch does not appear to have exhibited ANY of these traits UNTIL the news he had kicked his partner while she was on the floor came to the attention of the public.

No reports of a troubled childhood and no reports of any suicidal thoughts during his time on tv. No, only when he lost his 'mana' by giving his partner the bash and subsequently losing his job did he suddenly think of topping himself.

Apparently her wedding photos are in one of the women's magazines this week. Next week I suppose it will be a tour of Veitch's tragic places where he tried to say goodbye cruel world...

Tui anyone?

I understand your cynicism and I'm no fan of Veitch.

However his suicidal actions are likely to be genuine. There is a concept known as the Imposter Syndrome where a person who succeeds secretly believes they are a fake. Outwardly successful, they build layers of confidence to keep up the pretence and lead a full life.

If that persons essential self-belief is fragile then a traumatic mistake can shatter the illusion. They are left with a raw vision of being exposed, mocked, and worthless. For a successful high profile person, the crash is cataclysmic. Their entire sense of identity is destroyed. I know a man this happened to and he has never recovered.

This won't happen to everyone, there is usually an underlying psychiatric trigger. The point is, simply because he hasn't previously shown outward signs of mental illness doesn't mean it wasn't there. He was just coping like many others.

[Hitcher]

Why the hell did the Herald run the stories on the front page about the character references? Cant they just let it lie. Personal dislike for someone is no excuse for wishing them dead

This is a matter of significant public interest. The media would be remiss in not reporting it. The issue is how much attention they give to it, and that is the news value judgement that editors make. The media hasn't yet taken sides on this matter and the reportage has been largely balanced, as responsible journalism should be. Just because a particular issue offends some people doesn't mean that it shouldn't be reported.