Communities
What to do in your community
Whether it’s a sports club, school, religious group, marae, or your own book club, you have the potential to support recovery and inclusion.
What can your group do?
Most people with experience of mental illness will recover. However, discrimination is one of the biggest barriers.
There are many ways your community or community group can make people feel more included.
- Get to know your neighbours and other locals.
- Actively challenge views based on prejudice and stereotypes.
- Invite people from local mental health organisations to your group/activity.
- Find out how your group/activity can support recovery and inclusion.
- Offer free or introductory sessions for your group.
- Let people bring a support person if they need to.
- Offer flexible attendance to enable people to stay connected with the group.
- Encourage people in the group to get to know each other and introduce new people.
- Talk about mental illness and distress positively – see the tips on the Media page.
- When someone seems upset, ask how you can help.
Good reads
Editorial
Take the Load Off
We are very pleased to introduce Take the Load Off, our online... Read more
Sae Woom Tor Charitable Trust
Martha Kim
Martha Kim, chairperson of New Zealand-based Korean mental health and addiction awareness... Read more
Editorial
Five ways to reduce discrimination
Mental illness discrimination has a long, pervasive history. Many widely held negative... Read more
Farmers under pressure
Rural stress
A war is raging in the quiet backwaters of rural New Zealand.... Read more
Interacting with people in mental distress
Kites Trust
What you do as a police officer makes a difference. That is... Read more
Fighting the good fight
Sonia Gray
With twin four-year-olds and a busy work schedule to contend with, Lotto... Read more
Beauty queen speaks out
Torika Watters
Fijian Torika Watters was just 12 years old when her father, Allan... Read more
Student led initiative a growing success
Andrew Sutherland
Andrew Sutherland is working on a special project to reduce discrimination towards... Read more
Anti-discrimination advocate royally acknowledged
Tabby Besley
Tabby Besley is at the forefront of young people trying to change... Read more
Editorial
Young People Tackle Discrimination Through Art
A new Like Minds, Like Mine project, POD, is helping young people... Read more
App Helps Young People In Distress
Sarah Moktar
Sarah Moktar has developed an app to help people to understand what... Read more
An interface between mental health and identity
Intersex Trust Aotearoa
People who identify as LGBTI are more likely to be discriminated against... Read more
High school students challenge discrimination
Melissa Bridle
Melissa Bridle, from 24-7 YouthWork, wasn’t sure what to expect when she... Read more
reThiNK-ing youth resources
Taimi Allan
Based in Auckland, Taimi Allan is responsible for Mind & Body’s reThiNK... Read more
Tending the POD
Margaret Lockhart
Margaret Lockhart couldn’t be happier. As the Mental Health Foundation’s project lead... Read more
Pacific models create non-discriminatory environments
Susanne Cummings
Susanne Cummings’ journey started almost 20 years ago when she lived through... Read more
Editorial
Human rights at the core of Step Forward
In 1997 Like Minds, Like Mine had the distinction of being one... Read more
Positive Energy participants speak out
Stephen and Jason
Speaking openly about an experience of mental illness can be a scary... Read more
Mental distress on campus
Erin Harrington
The years spent in tertiary study are supposed to be some of... Read more
Research
Walk a mile in our shoes
Exploring Discrimination Within and Towards Families and Whānau of People Diagnosed with ‘Mental... Read more
Reducing stigma in Pacific communities
Evangelene Daniela
Combining cognitive behaviour therapy with cultural traditions is a “little bit on... Read more
Using drama to understand mental illness
Rangi Ruru Girls’ School
Year 13 drama students from Rangi Ruru Girls’ School, Christchurch, put themselves... Read more
Blogging to reduce stigma and discrimination
Jarno Noordermeer
Sharing the stories of people who have experienced mental illness is a... Read more
Research
Social inclusion, the key to recovery
Stories of Success is the latest publication the Like Minds, Like Mine... Read more
Youth voice reaches United Nations
Stephanie Shen
Until recently, Pakuranga College student, Stephanie Shen, had never experienced mental... Read more