Like Minds, Like Mine - National Plan 2003-2005

Like Minds, Like Mine
National Plan 2003-2005

Project to Counter Stigma and Discrimination Associated with Mental Illness

Whakaitia te whakawhiu i te tangata

Date of publication: September 2003

HP 3711

This plan builds on the previous national plans and the evaluation and learning that has occurred during the last five years of the Like Minds, Like Mine project.

A project to counter the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness was established as a five-year project in response to the 1996 Mason Report (Inquiry under section 47 of the Health and Disability Services Act 1993 in Respect of Certain Mental Health Services). Since 2001 the Government has maintained the project through public health baseline funding. This document updates the National Plan for the project and outlines the direction of the project for the two years from July 2003 to June 2005.

Development process for the National Plan

This plan was developed in consultation with the National Advisory Group and other key stakeholders. The plan also draws on information and advice from the evaluators and evaluation reports that have been completed in the last three years. A draft of the plan was made available for public consultation in the first half of 2003. Forty-three submissions were received as part of the consultation, covering most parts of New Zealand.

Consultation and key points from submissions received

The main points made in the submissions, which have been responded to in this final plan, can be summarised as follows.

The philosophy and direction of the project needed to be clarified, with particular reference to the social model of disability and a human rights approach. Fuller sections have been written on these in this plan.

The scope of the plan needed clarification, which as a consultation document featured aspects of three different types of planning: strategic, business and project. The focus and purpose of this plan centre on the strategic direction of the project and key activity areas. The more detailed business and project planning will be done by those working at the implementation level.

Changes were needed to some of the objectives. The need for a specific objective to address discrimination in mental health services was mentioned in a number of submissions, and some submissions suggested editing changes to clarify the intention of the objective about targeting key audiences. Changes to these objectives have been made based on views expressed in the submissions.

Two communities also responded to the consultation document.

Asian peoples and refugee and migrant communities responded. The draft plan made explicit reference to Asian communities and their specific needs for culturally appropriate methods. To that extent, these submissions were building on a development that had already been signalled.

People with experience of alcohol and other drug disorders also signalled their interest in the project. In the terminology of this project people who experience alcohol and other drug disorders are included in the range of groups of people with experience of mental illness.

Document availability

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