We wish you knew:
What people with Lived Experience of mental distress, addiction or substance use want politicians, policy makers and officials knew about prejudice, self-stigma and discrimination ahead of the 2023 general election.
Ahead of the 2023 General Election, what ONE thing would you like government, MPs, and policy makers to know about discrimination, prejudice and self-stigma for people with Lived Experience in Aotearoa?
“That it still exists! In the policy development, in the organisational structures, in the media, within communities. The way in which mental health is spoken about is still problematic - we are not the problem! The system that doesn’t serve us and our needs is the problem! We are the solution.”
“It is stigma, particularly self-stigma, and the resulting discrimination that seems to particularly stand as a barrier between people and recovery.”
“When people with mental illness are treated as second class citizens (through poor service, judgements, lack of resources etc) or that there is something 'wrong' with them, that message comes out as discrimination. Accepting discriminatory and bad practice as 'just how things are done' is dangerous and harmful.”
What do you believe would help end discrimination, prejudice and self-stigma for people with Lived Experience?
“More funding into education in schools, employment sector and community groups so we do not feel so alone and chastised for being who we are.”
“If everyone could look honestly at their own behaviors and accept that we all have some form of self-soothing coping mechanism; and that people who have developed unhealthy ways to cope need acceptance and human contact with kind others to succeed in creating new self-care routines.”
“The politicians, the MPs, the policy makers need to be on the frontlines to see for themselves how people are struggling.”
What ONE thing would you like Government, MPs, and Policy Makers to know about access to support and services for people with Lived Experience?
“These need to be available outside of 9-5 Monday-Friday. Only having services available during these hours perpetrates the stigma that we can’t hold down jobs and makes getting support difficult for those of us that do work.”
“Access to support and services needs to have a whare tapa wha approach with a combined approach involving multi-disciplinary agencies to support people earlier and prevent them from going into the system forever.”
“There needs to be more!! Stop putting all the money into developing/building replicated services, instead invest in holistic approaches to wellbeing - invest in better transport, e-mental health approaches. Think about our rural communities. Think about our marginalised communities who cannot access services due to inequity.”
What ideas, changes or suggestions would you make to improve mental health and addiction policies or laws in Aotearoa?
“Bring in culture shifts aligned with enabling good lives principles for more than just disability sectors. Hikoi and talk the talk.”
“Listen to people with Lived Experience about their experiences using the system and work with them to create change. Treat the information shared with respect and koha appropriately. It should not stop at consultation but be throughout and carry the same weight as opinions of those working within the system.”
“We need voices at higher levels who have been in hospital, been in respite or used community mental health services, because we know what works and what doesn't.”
“Include Lived Experience in the development of policies and law. Make it an absolute requirement to have Lived Experience/consumers on all policy development and decision making. I am interested to see how the repeal and replacement of MHA will impact on seclusion and restraint practises. This needs to be an absolute priority for our focussed attention.”