AF: We are going to have to cut those lines from your play about people being in institutions.
DT: Why?
AF: We don’t have them here in New Zealand.– Adam Fresco, Director of the Rethink Theatre Challenge to me, October 7th, 2010
Last month I traveled to New Zealand because a one-act play I’d written won an international playwriting contest. The contest, sponsored by Mind and Body Consultants, was funded by their annual RETHiNK Grant and was part of the national “Like Minds, Like Mine” campaign, a publicly funded program aimed at reducing the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness.
Ten one-acts were chosen to be performed on World Mental Health Day, October 10th (10 plays, 10 minutes, on the 10th day of the 10th month 2010.) The contest drew entries from around the world, with winners from New Zealand, China, England, Scotland and the United States. Each play had to reflect an aspect of mental health that reflected reducing stigma or discrimination.
Taimi Allan, an actress and mental health advocate leads Mind and Body’s Like Minds, Like Mine team. Allan was deeply involved in every level of the production and said that “without a doubt, this was the most exciting project I have ever been a part of. It mixed my two passions in life, performance and the promotion of mental health, and furthermore I believe it sets the benchmark for projects that seek radical social change.”
She was right.
Before posting, please read our blog moderation guidelines. The comments below begin with the oldest comments first. Click on the last comments page to jump to the most recent comments.
Before posting, please read our blog moderation guidelines.
Post a Comment:
Copyright © 1995-2013 Psych Central. All rights reserved.
Site last updated: 25 May 2013
|
Really interesting – may be wrong but one of the issues the US faces is that mental health is provided for through private organisations and institutions who have a vested interest in keeping people dependent and needy.
Whereas in NZ, community groups, supported through state money and a relatively secure social welfare programme (except for the continuous assault we suffer from the National Party, currently in power), means that there are few people on the street.
Lovely to see you here anyway. Best
I am an American living and working in NZ. NZ still has its issues with the acceptance of mental health issues – especially in the workplace. I can only imagine the more difficult issues in the States according to the article above. For example: my workplace has a very good disability policy for physical disabilities but there is not a clearly written policy for employees with mental illnesses. There are “bits and pieces” (a direct quote from the Disabilities Coordinator) but there is nothing clearly written for mental illness. It’s up to the discretion of the department head to “manage”. This means it relies on his/her understanding and/or compassion toward working with the individual. We all still have a long way to go. Thanks for the article and moving us one step closer to exposing these problems.
Great work Dan!
kia ora Dan , it was great to meet and work with you in NZ. I’d like to acknowledge you for your willingness to dive in and be a fully involved, from the first moment you arrived at rehearsals to the final show. What Dan hasn’t revealed was that due to non-arrival of an actor at two shows we press ganged him to being on stage !! He did a great job. Best wishes from the top of the world, keep up the great work. Cheers
NZ may be further down the path than the US but we still have a long way to go. People do still live on the streets or in half way housing because they have been kicked out of the supported accommodation due to anti-social personality issues or drug & alcohol abuse and there is no where else for them to go. The prisons here also have large numbers of people with mental health issues. Though yes, for the most part supported accommodation works really well.
I saw a beautiful NZ movie the other week that although based on a novel, highlights some of the issues and attitudes that still exist in NZ society around deinstitutionalization.
The Insatiable Moon is doing the film festival circuit at present and I highly recommend it.
You can watch the trailer here on their website:
http://www.theinsatiablemoon.com/
Reading this made me wonder if there was another “New Zealand” out there. Yes, we have de-institutionalised our mental health services; and we have adverts which run every now and again. But have you ever been on a psychiatric ward which is based on catchment area, rather than disorder? You get a mix from alcoholics, trauma survivors, psychotics etc. This is a triggering mix for nearly all patients.
I’m a survivor of abuse, and while I was waiting for a psychiatrist to assess me, a man masturbated outside the window while looking at me. I was left in the room for over five hours with no checks. This is not good quality care.
Meanwhile, I am subjected to jokes about people who “obviously haven’t taken their drugs today” at work. This means that I have not disclosed my mental health issues to anyone at work, and I feel stigmatised each time the jokes come out.
I know there are people doing good work in New Zealand Mental Health, and we’ve come a long way… but this article paints a picture of acceptance which I don’t see in my daily life.
It’s interesting talking to someone who is currently in an American psychiatric ward and comparing experiences. He has access to medication; I have trouble accessing basic medication (my GP refuses to prescribe some meds and the DHB tell me to find a GP who will). He has access to therapy in-patient; I experienced an unsafe, overcrowded holding tank environment.
I’m glad you saw the positives Daniel; but as a consumer, I’ve yet to get the sort of acceptance or care you describe.
Kind regards,
CG