Time For Change
Keynote presentation at the International eMental Health Forum.
Suicide Prevention Strategy
New Zealand is well known for its struggles with suicide, especially amongst indigenous Māori and young people. I was privileged to be the first lived experience member on the Ministry of Health Suicide Prevention Task Force to help develop the first Suicide Prevention Strategy.
More Case Studies
Media Reporting of Suicide
Every time we hear about suicide in the TV, radio or social media it has a huge impact on us and our communities. I led academic research into this which informed government guidelines on media reporting, this part was published in the peer-reviewed journal Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention.
DBT - Making The Difference
For me DBT (Dialectical Behavioural Therapy) takes all the best bits of the better-known CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and adds useful tools from Eastern traditions like acceptance and mindfulness. I felt privileged to be able to help the country's only residential DBT service with strategic and operational planing to improve accessibility and continue to deliver services.
21st Century Mental Health
How do we best deliver Mental Health services in ways people want it, when they want it? I feel privileged to be involved in one of the biggest shake ups in Population Health to unify four national services in Mental Health, Alcohol and Drugs, Problem Gambling and Smoking Cessation. I was the lead mental health writer on the original proposal and Service Architect for the development, design and implementation of these services.
Reducing Stigma and Discrimination
A big part of the change many of us want to see is a more inclusive society. By reducing the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness, the potential for recovery and integration is enhanced. I was strategic advisor to the governments development of our national plan to work towards this.