Changing Minds Forums
Changing Minds invites you to attend our monthly public forums. These forums provide an opportunity to share information and to network with others in the mental health and addictions sector.
2013 will see more interactive workshops delivered at the forums, in addition to our usual programme of speakers. We welcome suggestions from our members and if there are any topics in particular that you would like us to cover please get in touch by emailing joey@changingminds.org.nz.
Details of upcoming forums will be posted here as they become available.
12 June 2013: Consultation on Like Minds, Like Mine – Nathan Homestead, Manurewa
The next Changing Minds Forum will be taking place on Wednesday 12 June 12-2pm at the Nathan Homestead, 70 Hill Rd, Manurewa.
We invite you to come along to participate in a community consultation about Like Minds, Like Mine.
Mary O’Hagan (international mental health consultant) has recently been employed by the Ministry of Health to carry out a review of Like Minds Like Mine in order to direct the programme’s future and look at positive innovation from the ground up. She is seeking information from Changing Minds and others in the community regarding:
• people’s current experiences of stigma and discrimination
• what works in reducing stigma and discrimination
• the role of Like Minds and its past and present effectiveness
• the feasibility of incorporating addiction into Like Minds
• future directions for the Like Minds programme.
So, join us to share in some food and conversation. Save the date in your calendar and we’ll see you there!
You can also have your say by completing the online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LikeMinds2013
Additional background information regarding Like Minds Like Mine:
The Like Minds, Like Mine programme was established in 1997 to reduce stigma and discrimination against people with experience of mental illness. The programme is funded by government and includes national TV and other media campaigns as well as local advocacy and education. Rising to the Challenge: The Mental Health and Addiction Service Development Plan 2012-2017 states that the Ministry of Health will refresh the programme, and consider incorporating addiction into Like Minds. The current Like Minds plan expires on 30 June 2013 and a new strategy is to be developed.
A Thank You from Joey
As the primary organiser of our forums since July, I would like to thank everyone who has attended, as participants and speakers. We have had some really excellent presentations, and I am hoping some of them can be turned into longer workshops next year. The highlights for me were the musical session with Ajay Castelino, watching Philip Patston’s music video, hearing from Adrienne Giacon at Hearing Voices Network, and learning about the challenges of implementing human rights in the mental health sector, from Julie Watson. I’ve also enjoyed gradually getting to know more of our forum attendees over a cuppa and a wee savoury!
We have really valued the input from our attendees, and will be hoping to create even more opportunities for interaction and conversation in the new year. Please continue to support us by coming along, and inviting anyone who you think would be interested. Together we can keep informed and continue to strengthen the voices of tangata whaiora.
Thank you especially to the crew from Mahi Tahi, we hope to hold some of our forums out in South Auckland next year so we’ll keep you in the loop about that. If anyone ever wants information about our forums, they can ring our office on 09 623 1762, or email joey@changingminds.org.nz. Soon we’ll have info on our website too.
Thank you to everyone, and see you all at the next forum in February 2013!
If you missed out on coming to any of our forums in 2012, here are some audio recordings of the presentations:
- Julie Watson: Julie Watson – Human Rights.
- Damian Blake “Accessing services when presenting with co-existing disorders”
- Sharon Gibson - “From Mental Illness to Wellness without Medication”
- Nicola Owen “Save Auckland Disability Law”.
