Philleen Macdonald
Ngati Rereahu (Tainui), Tuhoe (Wairoa/Waikaremoana)
Philleen's experience of unfair treatment has been extensive. She was first diagnosed with postnatal depression in 1997 following the birth of her second child, then later re-diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder and has also experienced psychosis, anxiety and mate Maori. Since then she has faced a catalogue of difficulties.
"I have been declined accommodation opportunities; I was unable to sit on the BOT at my children's school; I am the one that felt uncomfortable because I had to disclose my mental illness when I applied for a bank loan after graduation; I have lived with the stigma of people avoiding me because I have become unwell in public settings; I endured the torment of being told no one would ever want to be with me.
"My family is investigating the viability of setting up a whanau trust to bring together their Maori land interests. Trustees must meet the criteria as a 'worthy appointee' and unlikely to appoint someone who has 'a mental disability.
"I have a social policy degree from Massey University, I advise on management, governance and strategic planning as part of my business, it is frustrating that society continues to outcast and exclude those living with mental health issues based on illness not capacity to participate," she says.
Philleen has also experienced discrimination on a more personal level.
"When I first became unwell, I found people wanted to manage me or the situation without actually including me in the process. This has changed and become better but some family members that are uneducated [about mental illness] often say and do things that are offensive.
"It is their lack of understanding and ignorance that fuels the discriminatory language and behaviour, maybe, too, it is fear. If I experience ‘normal' emotion often it is seen as a symptom of unwellness, rather than a natural reaction to trauma. My emotions at times, seem to be under constant scrutiny by those living external to my reality," she says.
While Philleen has had many successes in life and now runs her own recovery-based consultancy business - during the business planning and application stage she had to push hard to convince accountants that a sector existed that requires the expertise of consumers in mental health - the discrimination has continued.
"I have a fear that I will never own my own home or qualify for life insurance. My choices are taken away from me," she says.
Yet this unfair treatment is something that could be easily rectified by those concerned: "Rather than take away an individual's right to participate, find mechanisms to support them to be involved, it's simple really."
For people who have a personal relationship with experience of a mental illness, Philleen's advice is simple:
"Ask! Do not assume you know what is best for the person, trust that they know what works well for them and be supportive and accepting. Facilitate a process of recovery, do not take over, build trust, and be firm but compassionate," she says.
There are people who remain supportive including "my Nanny, Gina Tamaki, not only do I love her, I admire her and her unconditional love, she and her whanau have been steadfast in their love, support and acceptance. My three little candles: my children Chay, Siobhan and Danica, and my bestie, Brae, he looks beyond the diagnosis and symptoms and sees me and my potential and is a constant source of encouragement.
"There are many people that have inspired my life and facilitated my recovery. I cannot possibly pay homage to them all, but I know they are intrinsic to my life; they remain imbedded in my mind and heart for their acts of courage."
