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Category Archives: Social Change

Eleanor Longden Shares Experience of Learning to Live Well with Voices at TED2013

June 27, 2013 11:44 am ⋅

Eleanor Longden has come a long way since she was a university student and first started hearing a voice that narrated everything she did back to her in the third person.

She recently gave a talk at a TED conference, which has been shared all over Facebook this week. Eleanor is now working with InterVoice to raise awareness of voice hearing as a meaningful experience to be understood rather than something to be feared.

In one of the online threads afterwards, a Twitter user asks: Did you hear voices during your talk?

Eleanor Longden replies: Yes, they reminded me of parts of the talk I forgot.

Watch the Youtube Video Here – Eleanor Longden: Learning from the Voices in My Head.

Can’t watch the video for some reason? Read a great summary in this blog.

Posted in: Online Resources, Parents and Parenting, Recovery Stories, Service-User Movement, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

Petition for Better Mental-Healthcare Choices Presented to Parliament: What Next?

June 14, 2013 12:54 pm ⋅

PetitionPresentationPhoto

Annie Chapman completed her Hikoi for Better Mental-Healthcare Choices on Tuesday the 11th of July and presented the final Petition for Better Mental-Healthcare Choices to members of parliament on the steps of the Beehive.

Chapman writes, “Well, the deed is done!! Six months after setting off from Cape Reinga, I handed over the paper petition with 1053 signatures to Paul Hutchison, who presented it to Parliament today. I will hear back from the Health Select Committee, probably in just over a week, of when the petition will be considered by the Committee and will be invited to make a submission at that time.”

The petition presentation began with the final leg of the Hikoi as Annie made her way from the Botanic Rose Gardens to the Beehive with a collection of supporters. The procession reached parliament at midday where they were joined by a crowd of about 20 and at 12.30 the politicians arrived: Dr Paul Hutchison (National MP and chair of the Health Select Committee); Annette King (Labour Spokesperson for Health and member of the H.S.C.) Barbara Stewart (NZ First M.P. and member of H.S.C.); Dr Jian Yang (National M.P. and deputy chair of H.S.C.) and Louisa Wall (Labour M.P for Manurewa).

You can still help the Hikoi get results by making a submission to the health select committee about the Petition for Better Mental-Healthcare Choices.

Contact Annie Chapman for more information on hikoiforhealth@gmail.com

Email chairperson of Health Select Committee Paul Hutchison paul.hutchison@parliament.govt.nz

Posted in: Community Participation, News, Politics and Policy, Psychiatric Medication, Service-User Movement, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Consultation on Proposal to Change Home-Based Support Services in WDHB Area

June 1, 2013 3:34 pm ⋅

C O N S U L T A T I O N ON PROPOSAL TO CHANGE HOME-BASED SUPPORT SERVICES

Waitemata District Health Board are proposing to change the current model of care for the provision of Home and Community Support Services funded within the Waitemata District Health Board area.

Waitemata District Health Board is consulting with its communities and stakeholders on a proposal that may change the model of care for home-based support services within the district. The aim of the proposed model is to ensure clients receive services based on the level of need and that they are empowered to achieve optimal functioning and independence.

Waitemata DHB encourage you to provide feedback.

PROPOSAL

The proposal and other relevant documents are available on the Waitemata District Health Board website.

View Online – Visit: www.waitematadhb.govt.nz to view the proposal and other relevant documents.

Request a hard copy – contact Imelda Quilty-King, Community Engagement Coordinator, Waitemata DHB on mobile: 0212236099 or by email: hbssconsultation@waitematadhb.govt.nz if you wish to request a hard copy or if you have any other query on this proposal.

FEEDBACK

Online – Visit www.waitematadhb.govt.nz to complete a survey using survey monkey.

By post – Request a hard copy or print off the feedback form from the

website and post it the Waitemata District Health Board.

Request a Face to Face meeting – The Waitemata DHB is not holding public meetings however your organisation/group is welcome to request a face-to-face meeting with us by contacting Imelda Quilty-King, Community Engagement Coordinator, Waitemata DHB on mobile: 0212236099 or by email: hbssconsultation@waitematadhb.govt.nz

 

Feedback closes at 5pm, Monday 24 June 2013.

Posted in: Community Participation, Families/Whanau, Older People and Aging, Parents and Parenting, People with Disabilities, Politics and Policy, Service-User Movement, Social Change, Support, Trauma ⋅ Tagged: , , , , , ,

DSM-5 Discussed on Take it From us Radio 28 May 2013

May 28, 2013 12:30 pm ⋅

Tune in to Take It From Us on Tuesday May 28th to hear about the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which has attracted flak internationally.  Hearing Voices Network Aotearoa NZ is circulating an article from its associate in the UK. The show will discuss the essence of this article and other reaction to the launch of the DSM-5.

Listen live on 104.6FM at 12.30pm every Tuesday or online at 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

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

Posted in: News, Online Resources, Recovery Stories, Service-User Movement, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

Hearing Voices Network Releases Position Paper on DSM-5

May 28, 2013 12:45 am ⋅

Hearing Voices Network UK has released a position statement on the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), calling for input from the wider community. Read on for an excerpt and click the link at the bottom to keep reading and leave your comments.

“Position Statement on DSM 5 & Psychiatric Diagnosis”

“DSM 5, the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – often referred to as the ‘psychiatric bible’ – has now been released in the wake of huge controversy and debate. The alternative classification system, ICD, is based on exactly the same principles. Some of the world’s most eminent psychiatrists have spoken out about the current system.

The former director of the US’s largest funding body for mental health research, the NIMH, recently described DSM as ‘totally wrong, an absolute nightmare’. The chair of the DSM 5 committee admitted that ‘We have been telling patients for several decades’ that the biological causes of distress are about to be discovered, but ‘We’re still waiting.’ Another senior psychiatrist said, ‘Patients deserve better.’ In the UK, clinical psychologists have challenged the use of diagnosis and the ‘illness’ model.

The Hearing Voices Network, alongside many of our professional allies in psychology and psychiatry, has serious concerns about the way we currently understand, categorise and respond to mental distress . We also recognise the confusion that can be caused when accepted facts, often presented to service users as truths, are challenged.

We believe that people with lived experience of diagnosis must be at the heart of any discussions about alternatives to the current system. People who use services are the true experts on how those services could be developed and delivered; they are the ones that know exactly what they need, what works well and what improvements need to be made. This statement outlines the main issues, as we see them, and invites people on the receiving end of a diagnosis to have a voice in this debate.”

HVN Position Statement on DSM5 and Diagnoses: Download & distribute the pdf file

Read More Here

http://www.hearing-voices.org/about-us/position-statement-on-dsm-5/

Posted in: News, Politics and Policy, Service-User Movement, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: ,

IIMHL Updates Now Online

May 23, 2013 5:22 pm ⋅

You can now read the archive of the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership Updates online.

Follow this link to the IIMHL Update Archive.

Posted in: Online Resources, Politics and Policy, Professional Development, Service-User Movement, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

New Quarterly Magazine Diverse City Due for Release in June

May 18, 2013 7:04 pm ⋅

Diverse City – A FREE Changing Minds Publication

At the end of June Changing Minds will be launching a new quarterly magazine – Diverse City!

This new Changing Minds publication aims to widen the lens though which we view ourselves and the world around us, and we hope it will be the catalyst for some new conversations and ideas. Inside you will find analysis of community issues and current events as well as interviews, an arts section, and a whole lot more!
Read more…

There will be a limited hard copy print run of just 500 so be in quick and order yourself a copy today by completing and returning this form.

Posted in: News, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: , , ,

Hikoi for Better Mental-Healthcare Choices Builds Up to Petition Presentation at Parliament

May 18, 2013 6:56 pm ⋅

Wellington_Hikoi_Events_29May11June2013

Posted in: Community Participation, Families/Whanau, Human Rights and Legal Issues, Maori Communities, Men, Older People and Aging, Parents and Parenting, Pasifika Communities, People with Disabilities, Politics and Policy, Rainbow / LGBTQI+ Community, Service-User Movement, Social Change, Women, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , , , ,

National Depression Initiative Update Issue 12

May 18, 2013 6:30 pm ⋅

Issue 12 of the National Depression Initiative – NDI UPDATE ISSUE 12.

This issue is jam packed with lots of depression related activities happening across the country, as well as NDI specific, Pasifika radio adverts.

Please feel free to share this communication with friends, whanau/family, work colleagues and community groups.

If you would like your organisation, and the innovative work they are doing in the area of depression, profiled in an upcoming UPDATE newsletter, please email Kayte Goodward, Sector Relationship Manager at Lifeline.

Ph: +64 9 909 9216 | Mobile: +64 21 877 236

Email: kayteg@lifeline.org.nz

Posted in: Families/Whanau, Older People and Aging, Online Resources, Parents and Parenting, Pasifika Communities, Recovery Stories, Service-User Movement, Social Change, Young People and Youth Issues ⋅ Tagged: , ,

IIMHL and IIDL Update – 15 MAY 2013

May 18, 2013 6:06 pm ⋅

2013 Leadership Exchange

Copies of video interviews with delegates attending the Network Meeting are now available on the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership website, along  with the whiteboard narratives and workshops notes:  www.iimhl.com

Copies of keynote speakers’ presentations will be available shortly and IIMHL will also update you all on the formal evaluation in due course.

IIMHL Features

Sebelius: Bring mental illness out of the shadows

President Obama following lead of John Kennedy 50 years ago on improving access to care.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius speaks during the opening plenary of the National Health Policy Conference organized by The Academy Health February 4, 2013 in Washington, DC

Story Highlights

  • When untreated, condition takes a heavy toll on our society.
  • Part of improving care is ending the stigma.
  • The President seeks a national dialogue to get more young people to seek help.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/02/04/kathleen-sebelius-on-mental-health-care/1890859/

Creating A Place Of Healing and Forgiveness: The Trauma-Informed Care Initiative at the Women’s Community Correctional Center of Hawaii

Below is a link to a program brief that describes the Trauma-Informed Care Initiative at the Women’s Community Correctional Center of Hawaii, which is working to make the facility a “place of healing and forgiveness.”  Blending traditional Native Hawaiian concepts with the latest research on trauma-informed practices, the facility’s leadership has created a unique collaborative process for organizational change that includes staff, inmates, former inmates, community members, and representatives of community-based human service agencies. With a focus on educating staff, inmates, community partners, and the public about the value of trauma-informed environments and practices in healing, TICI creates opportunities for women to “live a forgiven life.”

This technical assistance document was developed by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP) under contract for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and was written by Darby Penney.

http://www.nasmhpd.org/docs/NCTIC/7014_hawaiian_trauma_brief_2013.pdf 

IIDL Feature

Self Directed Disability Support (SDDS): Building community capacity through action research

This Australian research project explores how people with disability manage the transition towards self-directed disability support. Set against a backdrop of substantial reform with the introduction of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), it is a collaboration between representatives of people with a disability and academic institutions to “investigate the impact and effectiveness of changes to self directed options for people requiring support, informal carers and support providers. It will also be a formative baseline for a longitudinal study examining service delivery systems pre and post the introduction of the NDIS”.

http://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/File/SDDS_research_plan_FINAL.pdf

2014 Leadership Exchange

The 2014 Leadership Exchange will be in England in June.  City and date TBC soon.

Please note: IIMHL try to find articles, new policies, research that has been released or opinion pieces they think are interesting to reflect on.  Sometimes those who receive these may feel  is not accurate either for its use of data or not aligned with their views. IIMHL does not endorse any article it sends out as they try to rapidly share information.

Fran Silvestri

President and CEO, IIMHL

fran@iimhl.com

General enquiries about this update or for other IIMHL information please contact Erin Geaney at erin@iimhl.com.

Posted in: Politics and Policy, Professional Development, Service-User Movement, Social Change ⋅ Tagged: , , , , ,