Includedletthesunshinein

JULY2003/9FromapresentationbyMaryO'Hagan,Mental;HealthCommissioner.
Thismetaphorseekstoprovideanunderstandableanduser-friendlyframeworkforplanningandevaluatinganti-discriminationwork,largelybasedontheworkofLizSaycefromEnglandandHamishMcKenziefromNewZealand.
Thesunrepresentstheidealofequalityrightsandrespect.
Thecloudsandrainrepresenttheproblemsofstigmaanddiscrimination.
Therainbowandtheneighbourhoods,avenuesandvehiclesinthecityrepresentthesolutionstostigmaanddiscrimination;theystandforthemostimportantissuesthatneedtobetakenintoconsiderationwhenplanning,evaluatingandgenerallythinkingaboutanti-discriminationwork.
LookinguptotheskyLookinguptotheskyLookinguptotheskyLookinguptotheskyLookinguptotheskyImagineyouareflyingdirectlyaboveasmallcityinchangeableweatherwithclouds,rain,apeepofsunandarainbow.
Thiswholesceneisametaphorforstigmaanddiscriminationandourworktoreducestigmaanddiscriminationagainstpeoplewhoexperiencementalillnessordistress.
Now,lookatwhatishappeninginthesky.
TheIdealThesun–equality,rightsandrespectThesunrepresentsequality,rightsandrespectforpeoplewithmentalillnessordistress–itistheabsenceofstigmaanddiscrimination.
Asthesun'slightcrossestheskyandshinesonthecity,itensuresthatpeoplewithmentalillnessarefreefromstigmaanddiscrimination.
TheProblemsCloudsandrain–thestagesofstigmaanddiscriminationThecloudsandtherainarestigmaanddiscrimination.
Justastherearedegreesofbadweathertherearedegreesorstagesofstigmaanddiscrimination:Partlycloudy–theperceptionofdifference.
Thisweathermeansthatthereisaperceptionthatpeoplewithmentalillnessordistressaredifferentfromotherpeopleinavalue-neutralway,thisissometimescalledlabellingorstereotyping.
Totallycloudy–thejudgementthatdiffe-renceisnegative.
Thisweatheristhejudgementthatthedifferencesassociatedwithpeoplewithmentalillnessordistressisnegative;thisissometimescalledstigma.
Intermittentshowers–thejustificationforexcludingpeople.
Thismeansthatpeoplebelievetheyhavejustificationforexcludingorseparatingpeoplewithmentaldistress;theuser/survivormovementhassometimesreferredtothisas'mentalism'.
Constantrain–theactofexcludingpeople.
Thismeansanactorafailuretoacthasledtotheexclusionorlossofstatusofpeoplewithmentalillnessordistress;thisisoftencalleddiscrimination.
Worktoreducestigmaanddiscriminationcanaddressanyorallofthesestagesordegreesofstigmaanddiscriminationattheindividual,groupandsystemiclevels.
Understandingthedegreeorstageofstigmaordiscriminationyouaretacking,shouldenableyoutodevelopbettertargetedsolutions.
Planningandevaluatingworktocounterstigmaanddiscriminationagainstpeoplewithmentalillnessordistress.
LetTHESUNSHINEINTheSolutionTherainbow–whywearedoinganti-discriminationworkWhenthesuncomesoutagainattheendofthebadweatheritstrikesthedropletsofrainstillinthesky.
Thesun'swhitelightofequality,rightsandrespectsplitsandrefractsintoarainbowofsevencolours.
Thesecoloursrepresentthedifferentphilosophiesorassumptionsaboutthenature,aspirationsorsocialcontextofpeoplewithmentaldistressthatunderlieeffortstoreducestigmaanddiscrimination.
Red–Medicalmodel.
Theredlightrepresentsthemedicalmodelviewthatpeoplewithmentalillnessshouldnotbestigmatisedordiscriminatedagainstbecausetheyareblamelessvictimsoftheirownpsychopathology.
Manyanti-discriminationcampaignshaveusedthisassumptiontojustifytheirwork,suchastheNAMIcampaignintheUSAandtheSANEcampaigninAustralia.
Themajoroutcometheyseekistoreducethestigmathatactsasabarriertopeopleseekinghelpfrommentalhealthservices.
However,themedicalmodelrationalemayinadvertentlyincreasestigmaanddiscriminationbecauseitviewstheexperienceofmentalillnessashavingnovalueandpeoplewithmentalillnessashavinglosttheircompetence.
Orange–Commonhumanity.
Theorangepartoftherainbowrepre-sentsthecommonhumanityviewthatpeoplewithmentalillnessarenotallthatdifferentfromothersbecauseweallshareacommonhumanity;thisincludesourexperiencesofdistressandmentalhealthproblems,whichdifferonlyindegree.
AnexampleofthisapproachistheLikeMinds,LikeMinetelevisionadvertswhichfeaturefamousandsuccessfulpeoplewithmentalillnessandendwiththesloganthatoneinfivepeopleexperiencementalillnessatsometimeintheirlives.
Thecommonhumanityviewhasbeencriticisedbecauseinitsattempttominimisethedifferencebetweenpeoplewithmentalillnessandothers,itmayinadvertentlyincreasestigmaanddiscriminationagainstpeoplewhoaremostseverelyaffectedbytheirmentalillnessordistresswhoareoftenperceivedasbeingthemostdifferent.
Yellow–Humanrights.
Theyellowpartoftherainbowisthehumanrightsviewthatallcitizenshavethesamecivil,political,social,economicandculturalrights.
Theserightsareuniversal.
Includedinthisarepeople'srightstoautonomyorself-determination,whichareoftendeniedtopeoplewithmentaldistress.
Peoplewithmentalillnessshouldbetreatedasautonomoushumanbeings–eveniftheymakemistakesordecisionsthatno-oneelseagreeswith.
Lobbyingtogivepeoplewithmentalillnessthevoteortherighttolivewheretheychooseaswellascampaignstoendforcedtreatmentarebasedonthisassumption.
Green–Disabilityinclusion.
Thegreenpartoftherainbowrepresentsthesocialmodelofdisabilitythatassertsitissocietythatdisablespeople,nottheimpairmentcarriedbytheindividual.
Disabledpeoplemaybedifferentbecauseoftheirimpairmentbuttheirrighttobeincludedisequaltonon-disabledpeople.
Thereforesocietyhasaresponsibilitytoremoveanybarriersexperiencedbydisabledpeopletoparticipateandbeincluded.
AnexampleofthisapproachistheNewZealandDisabilityStrategy.
Blue–Journeyofrecovery.
Thebluepartoftherainbowistherecoveryprocessofindividualswithmentaldistress.
PeoplewithmentalillnesshavethecapacitytorecoverandlivewellandtheyshouldnotbepreventedfromdoingsobypeopleandsystemsthathavenohopeorJULY2003/10andtherightsofpeopletofreedomofthought,freedomofspeechandtorefusetreatment.
Theneighbourhoodofsafetyincludestherighttobeprotectedfromavoidabledangerandfromallformsofabuseandneglect.
Theneighbourhoodofcitizenparticipationincludestheopportunitiestotakepartinpolitics,legalprocesses,thecultureofone'schoice,theservicespeopleuse,arts,recreation,sport,philanthropyandreligion.
Theneighbourhoodoffamilylifeincludestherightsandopportunityforpeopletohavepartners,tobearchildrenandcareforthem,andtodefinewhotheirfamilyis.
TheneighbourhoodshelpusdefineWHATweneedtochangeinthelivesofpeopleadverselyaffectedbystigmaanddiscrimination.
Theavenuesintothecity–whatweneedtochangeinthepeopleandsystemsthatdiscriminateLeadingfromtheedgetothecentreofthecityarethreemajoravenues.
Theavenueofheartsandmindsconcernstheinternalthoughtsandfeelingsexperi-encedbyindividualswhoper-petratestigmaordiscrimination.
Examplesofworkdirectedatheartsandmindsarethestoriesofpeople'sownmentalillnessoraplaythatgivespositivemessagesaboutpeoplewithmentalillnessortheLikeMinds,LikeMinetelevisionadverts.
Theavenueofwordsanddeedsconcernstheoutwardlanguageandotherbehaviourofindividualsorgroupswhoperpetratestigmaordiscrimination.
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Workdirectedatchangingwordsanddeedscouldbeacampaigntodiscouragetheuseofdegradinglanguage,anti-discriminationtrainingforemployers,oramanager'sinsistencethatmentalhealthworkersmustinvolveserviceusersasequalsintheirrecoveryplanning.
Theavenueofrulesandregulationsconcernsthepolicies,regulationsandlegislationcreatedbythegroupsorsystemsthatdiscriminate.
Workdirectedatchangingrulesandregulationsmightincludeaprojecttoidentifyandchangediscriminatorypoliciesingovernmentdepartmentsorstreamliningvocationalservicesfundingsothatpeoplewithmentalillnesshavebetteraccesstotheseservices.
Itcouldalsobeanti-discriminationlaw,anActthatempowerspeopletoseetheirclinicalfilesoralawthatgivesboardersthesamerightsastenants.
TheavenueshelpusdefineWHATweneedtochangeinthepeople,groupsandsystemsthatperpetratestigmaanddiscrimination.
Thevehiclesontheavenues–howweneedtobringaboutchangeAnumberofsolarpoweredvehiclesaredriven,oratleastnavigated,bypeoplewithmentalillnessordistressontheavenuesthatleadtothecentreofthecity.
Thesevehiclesindicatethedifferentmethodsorwaysofdoinganti-discriminationwork.
Thevehicleofadvocacy–suchas'noforce'demonstrationoracoalitiontofightdiscriminatoryhousingby-laws.
Thevehicleofeducation–suchasawareness-raisingworkshopsinschoolsorproducingakitforemployersonthetypesofworkbeliefinthem.
Theindividualrecoveryapproachneedstobesupportedbysomeofthemoresociety-orientedorcollectiveassumptionssuchashumanrightsanddisabilityinclusion.
Anexampleofworkusingthisapproachis'KiaMauriTau'–aresearchreporton40peoples'experiencesofrecovery.
Indigo–Whanaungatanga.
Thevioletpartoftherainbowiswhanaungatangaorcollectivism.
WhanaungatangaisaMaoritermmeaning'relationship'or'kinship'.
Stigmaanddiscriminationdon'tjusthurttheindividual–theyhurtthewholegroupbecausetheindividualissubsumedinthegrouptheybelongto;the'I'is'we'.
Thisisoftenanimportantassumptionforpeoplefromnon-westerncultures.
AnexampleofworkpromotingwhanungatangawouldbetoreducediscriminationamongMaoriandextendedfamiliessothatMaoriwithmentalillnesswhohavelosttheirrootscanbecomeapartofthem.
Violet–otherassumptionsorphilosophies.
Thereisaseventhcolourtotherainbow–violet.
Thisleavesaspaceforassumptionsandphilosophiesthathaven'tbeenthoughtofyet.
Thecoloursoftherainbowtendtoblendintoeachotherandeffortstocounterstigmaanddiscriminationoftendrawonmorethanoneoftheseassumptionsorphilosophies.
Somefitwelltogetherwhileotherscanclash.
Theassumptionsorphilosophiesyouchoosewillprobablybedeterminedbyyourownworldview,butyoucouldmakethechoicetoappealtoyouraudience,suchasusingthemedicalmodelapproachwithpsychiatrists.
TherainbowhelpsusdefineWHYwearedoinganti-discriminationwork.
LookingdowntothecityLookingdowntothecityLookingdowntothecityLookingdowntothecityLookingdowntothecityImagineyouarestillflyingandthatyoustarttolookdownatthecityinsteadofuptothesky.
Thecityrepresentssociety.
Itcannotfunctionwellforallitsdisabled,distressedanddisadvantagedcitizenswithoutdirectsunlight.
Thecityiscircularandismadeupofneighbourhoods,avenues,andvehicles.
Theseallconvergeatthecitycentre,makingitthehubofequalityrightsandrespect–theplacewherepeoplewithmentalillnesswanttobeabletogetto.
Theneighbourhoodsinthecity–whatweneedtochangeinthelivesofpeoplewhoarediscriminatedagainstThecityisdividedupintonineneighbourhoods,likethesegmentsofacake.
Theseneighbour-hoodsrepresenttheaspectsofpeople'slivesthatmaybeadverselyaffectedbystigmaanddiscrimination.
Theneighbourhoodofeducationincludeseduca-tionatallstagesoflifeandallstagesofadvancement.
Theneighbourhoodofworkincludespaidwork,voluntaryworkanddomesticworkinone'sownhouseholdTheneighbourhoodofmoneyincludesthemoneyapersonearnsorreceivesandtheopportunitiestheyhavetospend,saveorinvesttheirmoneyandtotakeoutloansorinsurance.
Theneighbourhoodofhousingincludesthephysicalstateandlocationofhousingaswellastheopportunitiestochooseindependenthousing,homeownershipandwhoifanyoneapersonliveswith.
Theneighbourhoodofhealthincludesbothphysicalandmentalhealthandtheopportunitiespeoplehavetomaintainandrestoretheirhealth.
Theneighbourhoodoflibertyincludespersonalfreedom,autonomyJULY2003/11'It'sgreattohavereceivedcommentonallaspectsoftheproject,withmanyinsupportofitsstrongerhumanrightsandanti-discriminationfocus,'saysGerardVaughan,nationalprojectmanagerfortheLikeMindsproject.
'I'mespeciallypleasedbythenumberofindividualswhotookthetimetoreadtheplan,andsendintheircomments,"'hesaid.
'Theircommentsrepresenttheverygrassrootsoftheproject,andindicatethattheproject'sfuturedirectionmattersdeeply.
'Gerardsaystherehavebeensomeexcellentsubmissionsfromcommunityorganisationsalso.
'CCShaveastrongun-derstandingoftheconnectionsbetweendiscriminationandthewaysocietydisablespeople,andithasbeenvaluabletogetsuchathoughtfulsubmissionfromthem.
''Peopleobviouslyhaveaverywiderangeofbeliefsaboutwhattheprojectisreallyabout,'saysHelenGilbert,aseniorpolicyadvisorwhoisanalysingthesubmissions.
SUBMISSIONSonLikeMindsNationalPlanSupportStrongerHumanRightsFocusAlmostfortyindividualsandgroupshavemadesubmissionstotheMinistryofHealthgivingtheirviewsonthedraftNationalPlan2003-5fortheLikeMindsproject.
'SomepeopleareveryclearthatLikeMindsshouldbeaboutchallengingdiscrimination,andusingthetechniquesthathaveproventobeeffectiveindoingthat.
Otherpeoplehavetheideathatthemainpurposeoftheprojectistoimprovethementalhealthofspecificpopulations.
Butthatistheresponsibilityofawiderrangeoforganisations,andnotdirectlyinlinewiththeproject'spurpose.
'Supportforgrowingtheleadershipofpeoplewithexperienceofmentalillnesshasbeenverystrong,accordingtoHelen.
'Onegroupmadethepointthatthatsupportneedstobeforourconsumer-runorganisations,sothatwecanbuildourcommunityandorganisationalcapability,ratherthanjustforindividualconsumers.
'Someaspectsofthenewplangotthethumbs-upfromsomepeopleandtheoppositere-sponsefromothers,sothatneedstobetakenintoaccounttoo,saysHelen.
Shealsonotedthatonlytwoofthecountry'sthirty-fourDHBsmadesubmissions,'whichsuggeststhat,despiteyearsofwork,LikeMindsiswaybelowtheirradar'.
Whenthesubmissionshavebeenanalysedandsummarised,thedraftplanwillbemodified,andmadefinal.
AsummaryofthesubmissionswillbeavailableontheLikeMindswebsiteatwww.
likeminds.
govt.
nz.
conditionspeoplewithmentalillnessmightneed.
Thevehicleoflegalreform–suchasthelegalbanningofECTortheintroductionofanti-discriminationlaw.
Thevehicleofpolicydevelopment–suchasdeinstitutionalisationpolicy,oragovernment-fundedprojecttoreducediscriminatorypolicyingovernmentagencies,oragovernmentstandardthatmentalhealthservicesmustworktoreducediscrimination.
Thevehicleofservicedevelopment–suchasanaffirmativeactionprotocoltoencouragepeoplewithmentalillnesstoworkinmentalhealthservices,achecklistforsocialservicesstafftoidentifytheirownstigmaanddiscriminationagainstclientswithmentalillness,orenteringapartnershipwithserviceusersfortheplanningandevaluationofservices.
Thevehicleofcommunitydevelopment–suchasworkingwithaneighbourhoodtoreducetheirfearsandenablethemtoacceptpeoplewithmentalillnesslivingontheirstreetorsupportingagroupofserviceuserstodevelopanadvocacyorganisation.
Thevehicleofartsandmedia–suchastheLikeMindsLikeMinetelevisionadverts,oraMadPrideconcertputonbypeoplewithexperienceofmentaldistress.
Thevehicleofresearchsuchasasurveyofthediscriminationexperiencesfacedbypeoplewithmentalillness,oranevaluationofamentalhealthservicesstandardforreducingdiscrimination,oraparticipatoryactionresearchprojectinvolvingpeoplewithmentalillnesstoexplorediscriminationandwaysofreducingit.
ThevehiclesontheavenueshelpusdefineHOWweneedtobringaboutchange.
SomesuggestionsforapplyingthemetaphortoyourworkThecategorieswithinthebadweather,rain-bow,neighbourhoods,avenuesandvehiclesshouldbeviewedasmalleable.
Forinstance,somepeoplemayprefertoseparateartsfrommediaandcreateanothervehicleortheymaywishtoaddatotallynewvehicle,suchas'localgovernmentby-lawreform'.
Alotofanti-discriminationworkisbasedonmorethanoneofthecategories.
ForinstancetheLikeMinds,LikeMinetelevisionadvertsarebasedprimarilyonthecommonhumanityassumptionintherainbow.
Buttherearealsosomeaspectsofthemedicalmodelandjourneyofrecoveryreflectedinpartsoftheadverts.
Theyarenotspecificallytargetedtoanyoftheneighbourhoods.
Theadvertsseektochangeheartsandminds,buttheycouldchangesomewordsanddeedsaswell.
Theyfitintotheartsandmediavehiclebuttheyalsofulfilaneducationfunction.
Thisframeworkcanbeusedforindividualprojectsorforsystemicoverviewsofanti-discriminationwork.
Itsmainbenefitsforindividualprojectswillbetogivethemsomeinternalconsistencyandclarity.
Insystemicoverviewsofanti-discriminationworktheframeworkwillhelptoidentifyduplications,gapsandinconsistenciesbetweendifferentprojectsandactivities.
Thisisaworkinprogress.
TheMentalHealthCommissionisdevelopingatemplateoutofthismetaphorforpeopletoplanandevaluateanti-discriminationefforts.