Engage Aotearoa

Category Archives: Service-user Movement

Take It From Us in Top 3 at Annual Micie Awards

December 6, 2012 7:54 pm ⋅

In the annual PlanetFM Micie awards last night, mental health radio Take It From Us placed in the top 3 for “hits” on the PlanetFM website, planetaudio.org.nz. That’s three places better than the show’s 2011 Top 10 ranking of sixth, and is a credit to the enthusiastic work of technical assistant, Declan Curran, in establishing a Facebook presence, and separate email to promote Take It From Us, and emphasise the on-line opportunities for listening to broadcasts.

Take It From Us has won six Micies now in six years, and host Sheldon Brown sends out a big thank you to all our guests, listeners and supporters.

Listen live on 104.6FM at 12.30pm every Tuesday or online www.planetaudio.org.nz

OR if you missed the broadcast, listen for the next seven days @: www.planetaudio.org.nz/takeitfromus

Catch up on the last four shows online: www.likeminds.org.nz

And don’t forget our new Facebook page @ Facebook.com and type take it from us in the search box; our email is takeitfromus@mail.com for any feedback and comment/suggestions for shows

Posted in: News, Online Resources, Service-User Movement ⋅ Tagged: , , , , , ,

Petition to Save Auckland’s Rape Crisis Line – Again!

December 2, 2012 2:52 pm ⋅

Auckland’s 24 hour rape crisis line is again under threat of closure — less than 12 months since 7,000 people signed the petition that forced PM Key to promise its survival.

2 000 people signed the new petition in the first 24 hours – but it’s not over yet.

The 24 hour rape crisis line is integral to our community. It’s the service that Auckland’s sexual violence survivors can turn to for help. For thirty years, it’s taken a call every hour of every day.

A year ago, PM Key said he’d do his part to help rape survivors by funding the crisis line. But, we always said we’d need to stay vigilant and hold the government to their word. And now that the spotlight has dropped off, the Government thinks it can get away with slashing funding for this essential service. 

The service needs just $116,000 from the government to survive. And we know we can get that commitment again if we continue the pressure. Sign and then share the petition with at least 5 of your friends and have them add their names to support a vital service. An immediate and overwhelming response will show the Prime Minister that we’re still watching.

This service will close unless we act now. The service’s board will soon start offering redundancies to counselling staff — the exact people rape survivors rely on for support and advice in their time of need.

Volunteers and staff are planning some media events and are trying hard to get the word out. But take a moment to share the petition with at least 5 of your friends and do your part to help an essential service that many rely on.

Posted in: Community Participation, Human Rights and Legal Issues, News, Politics and Policy, Service-User Movement ⋅ Tagged: , ,

Medical Council Reviewing its Standards of Clinical Competence and Ethical Conduct

November 27, 2012 4:30 pm ⋅

GOOD MEDICAL PRACTICE

The Medical Council of New Zealand is reviewing its standards of clinical competence, cultural competence and ethical conduct for doctors.

Have your say about ‘good medical practice’ in Aotearoa.

To find out more go to http://consumercollaboration.org.nz/news/good-medical-practice

Posted in: Asian Communities, Community Participation, Maori Communities, Men, Older People and Aging, Parents and Parenting, Pasifika Communities, People with Disabilities, Politics and Policy, Service-User Movement, Social Change, Women, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Consumer Collaboration of Aotearoa Strengthens Input to Health and Disability Sector

November 27, 2012 4:24 pm ⋅

The Consumer Collaboration of Aotearoa is a fairly new group set up and supported by the Health and Quality Safety Commission to provide consumer input to services and any other interested parties. It is a collaboration of consumer groups from the whole health and disability sector, not only mental health.

If you are not already, your organisation is strongly encouraged (provided it fits the definition of ‘consumer’ organisation) to join up. Individuals can join as ‘associate’ members if they are not with an organisation as such.

What do organisations get for their free membership of the CCA?

  • An information centre for information about consumer organisations
  • ‘Go to’ group/website for consumer reps and other stakeholders
  • Opportunity to retain your organisations own identity but act collaboratively
  • You can profile your organisation on the CCA website Invite organisations to upload their profiles to CCA website

They had an AGM at the end of October and have produced a newsletter outlining the details.

To find out more

  • Visit the website

 http://consumercollaboration.org.nz

  • Email Darcey Jane, Project Manager, Consumer Collaboration of Aotearoa

Darcey@kites.org.nz

Posted in: Addiction/Substance Abuse, Community Participation, Disability Issues, News, Older People and Aging, Parents and Parenting, People with Disabilities, Physical Health, Service-User Movement, Social Change, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , ,

New Bilingual Recovery Stories up on Kai Xin Xing Dong Website

November 21, 2012 9:40 am ⋅

Strive to do your best but understand there is no perfect parent

MEDIA RELEASE: Mental Health Foundation of NZ

19 November

It is 10 ten years since Kelly first arrived at Auckland airport to make New Zealand her home. Now she is a mother of two lovely daughters, one of them a Dragon Baby.

Kelly is also a full time worker, a wife, daughter and chair of Baby Ferns Inc– and sometimes this is stressful.

“I am so thankful for the support and love my mother gave to me. On the other hand, I have to acknowledge it’s not always easy to live in a household with three generations.”

Kelly’s story is the final is a series run by Kai Xin Xing Dong – the Mental Health Foundation’s bilingual English-Mandarin Like Minds, Like Mine programme. The series highlights the challenges Chinese parents face bringing up their newborn “dragon babies” in New Zealand society.

The Mental Health Foundation understands that new parents need help and support and, sometimes, just by knowing where to find these can be all you need to feel more confident. We hope by reading these parents’ stories people will not feel so alone. The stories also give lots of practical advice for the first years of a child’s life and beyond. They also touch on post natal depression and where to get help.

The Mental Health Foundation also supplies an excellent free postnatal depression pamphlet for English speakers.

The end of the Dragon Baby series coincides with Postnatal Awareness Week 17-25 November, and the series as a whole was launched at the same time as the Chinese Mental Health Consultation Services’ new Vagus helpline.

All stories are published online in English and Mandarin.

Vagus Line 0800 56 76 666

This new service is to promote family harmony among Chinese, enhance parenting skills, decrease conflict among family members (couple, parent-child, in-laws) and stop family violence. It provides free, confidential and professional advice, such as parenting strategies and communication skills. If necessary, clients can be referred to Vagus counselling services or related resources. Service hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 12 noon to 2pm.

Year of the Dragon 

2012 is the Chinese Year of the Dragon and has given rise to the phrase “dragon baby” for families expecting a new arrival. The dragon is the mightiest zodiac sign in Chinese astrology, and is associated with traits such as success, ambition and independence. Many mothers consider this to be a particularly auspicious year to give birth. In recognition of this, we have made a special Dragon Baby section on the Kai Xin Xing Dong website, where we offer Chinese language information for new and expectant mothers.

Kai Xin Xing Dong 

Kai Xin Xing Dong is a Like Minds, Like Mine public education programme aimed at reducing the stigma and discrimination faced by Chinese people who experience mental illness. The project is funded by the Ministry of Health and guided by the Kai Xin Xing Dong Advisory Group.

For more information please contact: 

Paula Taylor
Communications & Marketing Manager
09 300 7025
021 300 594
paula@mentalhealth.org.nz

For comment in Mandarin, please contact: 

Ivan Yeo
Mental Health Promoter
Ph: (09) 300 7017
027 2808 972
ivan@mentalhealth.org.nz

http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/kaixinxingdong/page/501-a-to-z+dragon-babies+parents-stories+kelly-feng

Posted in: Asian Communities, Online Resources, Service-User Movement ⋅ Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Big White Wall Radio Interview 20 November 2012

November 19, 2012 7:08 am ⋅

What is the Big White Wall, how can it help emotional wellbeing, how does it work, and who will it benefit? Hear the answers to these questions on Take It From Us tomorrow (Tuesday 20 November) with Robert Ford, Auckland District Health Board planning & funding manager, who will tell us about this “Kiwi first.”

Listen live on 104.6FM at 12.30pm or online www.planetaudio.org.nz

OR if you missed the broadcast, listen for the next seven days @: www.planetaudio.org.nz/takeitfromus

Catch up on the last four shows online: www.likeminds.org.nz

And don’t forget the new Facebook page @ Facebook.com and type ‘take it from us’ in the search box

Email  takeitfromus@mail.com for any feedback and comment/suggestions for shows.

Posted in: Online Resources, Service-User Movement, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , , , , ,

What Health Areas Do You Want Tracked?

October 28, 2012 12:24 am ⋅

The Health Quality and Safety Commission have been working with the Atlas team to involve consumers in The Atlas work programme. The Atlas is a way of mapping health and disability services in New Zealand in particular health topic areas.

This is one way consumers can have a say in what topic areas the Atlas might look at.

The link for more background information on Atlas is:

http://www.hqsc.govt.nz/our-programmes/health-quality-evaluation/projects/atlas-of-healthcare-variation/

If you would like to make a submission, or multiple submissions, please send by email by 5pm, Thursday 22 November 2012 to Natalie.ganley@hqsc.govt.nz.

Posted in: Community Participation, People with Disabilities, Service-User Movement ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

Crossroads Clubhouse on Facebook

October 25, 2012 6:55 am ⋅

Crossroads Clubhouse now has a Facebook page!

You can view this by clicking on the following link www.facebook.com/CrossroadsClubhouseNZ  feel free to “like” the page to keep in touch with their updates.

www.crossroadsclubhouse.org.nz

Ph: (+64 9) 376 4267

Fax: (+64 9) 376 1833

Crossroads Clubhouse is a member of the International Network of Clubhouses successfully operating in 24 countries around the world under guidance from the International Centre for Clubhouse Development (ICCD) www.iccd.org

Posted in: Community Participation, Service-User Movement, Support ⋅ Tagged: , , ,

Chinese Recovery Stories on Kai Xin Xing Dong

October 21, 2012 10:21 pm ⋅

MEDIA RELEASE

Mental Health Foundation of NZ: 8 October 2012 

Chinese children do not need to be number one all the time says father

Raymond is a Malaysian-born Chinese father of two New Zealand-born children – his pride and joy! He wants other Chinese dads to realise that in New Zealand children don’t need to be ‘number one’ all the time. And, as well as being a committed father, he tries to be a good husband.

Raymond’s story is the third in a series of articles posted on the Mental Health Foundation’s English-Mandarin Kai Xin Xing Dong website. The articles are intended to support and encourage new parents during the Year of the Dragon.

When extended families do not reside in the same country, there are often more challenges for parents, especially if you are a first-time parent bringing up your newborn in New Zealand society. The Mental Health Foundation understands that new parents need help and support and, sometimes, just by knowing where to find these can be all you need to feel more confident. We hope by reading these parents’ stories you will not feel so alone.

Subjects discussed in Raymond’s story include the importance of peer support, instilling tradition, using positive reinforcement and how fatherhood can be hugely rewarding.

Our articles are published online in English and Mandarin and give lots of practical advice for the first years of a child’s life and beyond. They also touch on post natal depression and where to get help.

The series coincides with the launch of the Chinese Mental Health Consultation Services’ new Vagus helpline.

Vagus Line 0800 56 76 666 

This new service is to promote family harmony among Chinese, enhance parenting skills, decrease conflict among family members (couple, parent-child, in-laws) and stop family violence. It provides free, confidential and professional advice, such as parenting strategies and communication skills. If necessary, clients can be referred to Vagus counselling services or related resources. Service hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 12 noon to 2pm.

Year of the Dragon 

2012 is the Chinese Year of the Dragon and has given rise to the phrase “dragon baby” for families expecting a new arrival. The dragon is the mightiest zodiac sign in Chinese astrology, and is associated with traits such as success, ambition and independence. Many mothers consider this to be a particularly auspicious year to give birth. In recognition of this, we have made a special Dragon Baby section on the Kai Xin Xing Dong website, where we offer Chinese language information for new and expectant mothers.

Kai Xin Xing Dong 

Kai Xin Xing Dong is a Like Minds, Like Mine public education programme aimed at reducing the stigma and discrimination faced by Chinese people who experience mental illness. The project is funded by the Ministry of Health and guided by the Kai Xin Xing Dong Advisory Group.

For more information please contact: 

Paula Taylor
Communications, Marketing Manager
09 300 7025
021 300 594
paula@mentalhealth.org.nz

For comment in Mandarin, please contact: 

Ivan Yeo
Mental Health Promoter
09 300 7017
027 2808 972
ivan@mentalhealth.org.nz

Posted in: Asian Communities, Online Resources, Service-User Movement, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: , , , , , ,

Stigma Watch is Here: Get Involved!

October 19, 2012 11:27 pm ⋅

A new project, Stigma Watch, is now up and running. Details are below. If you would like to join the Facebook group please let Katrina know at the email address below and she will send you an invitation.

Stigma Watch is a group which enables members of the public to access and respond to media articles or portrayals that may be stigmatising to those with experience of mental illness.

The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand will disseminate potentially stigmatising articles to members of the group. Members can then respond directly to media outlets, in their capacity as either:

a)      Individual members of the public; or

b)      Spokespeople for their organisations*

* Spokespeople  must check with their managers that they are allowed to speak on behalf of their organisation. Many organisations will have official communications departments who issue all statements. If in doubt, ask!

The Stigma Watch process

Anyone who is interested in keeping abreast of New Zealand media articles addressing mental health issues can join Stigma Watch. To be added to the database, just email NewsAlerts@mentalhealth.org.nz with the Subject: Join database.

Regular emails will be sent directly to your email address. You can also, should you wish, join the Stigma Watch Facebook group where you can discuss articles with other group members. These conversations will be private to the group.

If you feel that an article requires a response, you should respond directly to the media outlet.

Where Like Minds fits in

Stigma Watch is part of the Like Minds programme. However, please do not respond as Like Minds or as a Like Minds spokesperson. If you are a provider, you may refer to yourself as such, but any responses made will come from you or your organisation, not Like Minds.

Where the Mental Health Foundation fits in

The Mental Health Foundation will provide administrative support for the Stigma Watch database and Facebook page. Any responses to media articles from the Mental Health Foundation will come from the Chief Executive and will not be part of Stigma Watch.

Why won’t the Mental Health Foundation get involved in responses?

They do! The Mental Health Foundation sends many responses to media articles every year. But what Like Minds now needs is a bigger pool of responders who are speaking on their own behalf. The more responses an article gets, the more likely the media organisation is to sit up and take notice.

Mental Health Foundation communications team

The Mental Health Foundation communications team does not have the capacity to provide any services to those who wish to respond to articles (e.g. proof reading). The role of the Mental Health Foundation is purely administrative.

If you have any questions about Stigma Watch, please email Katrina: Katrina@mentalhealth.org.nz.

Posted in: Community Participation, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Service-User Movement, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: , ,