Transforming Mental Health Conference
At the end of July, Changing Minds' CEO Chief Enabler Kevin Harper chaired the Transforming Mental Health Conference in Auckland.
Held at the Millennium Hotel over two days, the conference was an invaluable opportunity for sharing and learning. Delegates from a range of agencies and providers attended, with a diverse array of speakers including Rongoā Māori healer Donna Kerridge, Professor Philip Morris, Executive Director of the Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association, and Tall Tree Tamara Waugh, sharing her Master’s research, ‘Project Milwaka’.
Acting as Conference Chair gave Kevin the opportunity to take our community voice direct to the conversation about mental health, bringing a ‘people perspective’ to the forefront. 'Mental wellbeing is such an enormous, overarching issue,' he says. 'It touches on all aspects of our lives — and all aspects of our lives affect our mental wellbeing.'
Our community tells us every mental health response needs to go beyond the health system and services level — beyond the clinical. Effective mental health support includes awareness of the person's physical health, their housing and family situation, socio-economic pressures, and all the other lifestyle factors that can contribute to mental distress. To be effective, clinical services must recognise this, and be supported by systems that enable a wrap-around, tailored approach.
'From our advocacy work we understand this,' says Kevin. 'And we understand that the Lived Experience community has clear expectations of Mental Health transformation.' These expectations include:
Support that goes beyond the mental health system and services. Community-based support, and connection with others on similar journeys. An increase in long-term care plans and support.
Creation of more options. Options that people can connect with, balanced across services that are person-centred, self-referred, holistic, medication free, community-based, digital and accessible out of hours
Recognition of people’s expertise. A reduced need to 'prove' illness or wellness, and acknowledgement of inequity and different experiences.
Building equal relationships. Therapeutic relationships based on empathy, and feeling safe and welcomed. Active challenging of prejudice and discrimination.
Above all, as Kevin reminded conference attendees, people's expertise in their own lives must be recognised. 'People know their own needs,' he says. 'It's up to providers to build a relationship with individuals and their whānau, their communities, to understand how to support each person in living well.'
The exchange of learning and experience at the Transforming Mental Health Conference was every bit as valuable in between presentations as during them, says Kevin, with time built in for everyone to talk and network. With a wide range of professional perspectives in the room alongside the personal experiences and perspectives of the Lived Experience community, there were many differing views on mental health and what systems transformation can mean. 'Some challenging conversations were had,' Kevin says. 'But overall, the take-away was hope.' And as he explained to the crowd, real improvements can only be made by putting people at the centre — looking at systems and services through a people lens. And NGOs like Changing Minds have an important role to play in driving and enabling that change of focus, by platforming the voices of Tāngata Mātau ā-wheako and supporting them as leaders of their own journeys.
As well as inviting Kevin to Chair, Conference organisers gave Changing Minds five tickets to share with our community. We were delighted to have Amy, Georgina, Rose, Roxanne, and Johnny attending alongside Kevin, bringing their own unique perspectives and gaining important insights into the current and future state of mental health care in Aotearoa. Thank you to everyone who entered the prize draw for these tickets (we wish we could have brought you all).