Innovator and MasterChef Winner Tim Read Cooks Up Mental Health Support App
Innovator and Masterchef Winner Tim Read Cooks Up Mental Health Support App
Tim Read shares his journey from despair to connection through food—and how he’s now turning that passion into a mission to help others.
"Not long ago, I found myself on the brink. After a suicide attempt, I was desperately searching for a way back to life. Unexpectedly, I found it in food. Cooking became my lifeline, grounding me and offering a powerful reminder of survival and support.
Food was never only about survival for me; it became a ritual. One trip into the wilderness changed everything. I hunted and butchered my first deer, and as I did so, I felt a deep connection to the cycle of life. I brought the meat back from Wellington to Auckland, and my best mate and I cooked osso buco for a group of friends. It was messy and took way longer than planned, but something magical happened when we finally sat down together. The food was good, but it was the laughter and connection that brought me back to life. For the first time in a long time, I felt hope.
That night, I learned the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is fleeting, but joy—real joy—comes from finding purpose. For me, that purpose came through hunting, cooking, and sharing meals. It became my way of celebrating survival and connection. Over the years, I’ve cooked in kitchens around the world. In each, I experience that same sense of joy and fulfilment.
These experiences inspired me to create Helmet This is an app designed to support those helping loved ones who face mental health and addiction challenges. It empowers supporters to walk alongside those they care about. Most importantly, it fosters resilience through that same thing that gave me hope all those years ago - connection."
Hospitality NZ saw Helmet’s potential and is now offering the app to its members. In Helmet we are helping to transform lives through the power of shared support.
To learn more about Helmet and the impact it’s having click here to learn more.
You can join in and help to develop the helmet community here
