No blunt workforce

Lived experience

I grew up in Dunedin to a Samoan dad and a Polish, Scottish and Irish mum, and I live in Christchurch. I have four brothers. When I think about why I am in mental health and addiction, I come back to two things. Across six generations on our Polish and Scottish side, our family have been supported or have supported others in their mental health. I did not know that until recently. I only knew about four generations. It ends up being something the family passes down, something you talk about together and you are oriented towards at a young age.

Lived experience

Another reason is my leadership experience as a young person and my personal experience of mental distress. I was part of a leadership programme that our elders organised in Christchurch before the earthquakes called the Pacific Youth Leadership and Transformation (PYLAT) programme. 

When the earthquakes came, I saw the impact on people trying to have their needs met. Immediately our elders had to step into other needs, we as a group of Pacific youth had to support ourselves more. In doing that, we developed PYLAT into a charity empowering Pacific youth voice. That was when I started to see what you can do to prepare to support people well. It is similar to what we are talking about today. You have to be ready for a lot more than you realise. I bring these experiences into mental health and addictions governance. My main current role is as one of the board members of Te Hiringa Mahara, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.

Why events like TheMHS Auckland are vital

This event is important for several reasons. The Australasian nature of it. Learning, sharing and reflecting across both nations matters. Australia is often where some great innovation is happening. It is helpful to see what each state is trying to do, and different examples of what works. 

The right people in the right place

TheMHS (pronounced themes) has had important influence over a long period, and we have not had a bicultural example in New Zealand of this level of conference. The mix of who is here matters. Ngāti Pāoa on the day of their Te Tiriti settlement, Commissioners from Australia, Community members.,Lived experience and youth leaders, and our Mental Health Commission board and kaimahi here. This is convening the right people to have the conversation we need to have to draw on this influence for impact .

Minister Doocey cited it as one of the most important conferences on the mental health crisis topic. The calibre of attendees reflects that. 

• Frontline workers. 
• People who support crisis support and responses at all places of influence
• The Mental Health Commissioner from South Australia, Taimi Allan

Everyone in the room is connected and wants to be there.

The call that brought us together today was decided about a year ago. It came from the connection between TheMHS wanting to help here in Aotearoa more and the Commission wanting to work with TheMHS. 

Everybody in Aotearoa knows someone who is reaching out for help. As a country and as communities, we have not worked out all the resourcing needed to cover those gaps. This conference is about highlighting that and pressing further into the issue.

As Minister Doocey said, it is not all about what the government can do alone or what the Commission can do. This is what our 2018 report into Mental Health and Addiction said too, the recommendations were to the Government and the whole country. 

My top three take aways

• The first is that all the leaders here from New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific believe there is a need for more crisis investment. Many New Zealanders I hear from  do not feel confident that people believe them about how big the need is. I am glad I am hearing in the room that everybody understands how important this need is to honour the voices of those New Zealanders.
• The second is re-energising. It is the end of the year. People are tired. We are talking about an area where it has been very difficult to make change. At the same time I only hear energy and belief that we can get closer to good.
• The third is that the voices that need to be heard are being heard. Across Aotearoa, it is not always the peer workers, or youth workers or frontline workers who get airtime. Even when they do, time and space to reflect with lived experienced leaders gives us clarity in what we need to do differently. 

Final thought

We need to keep the sector together. Our wellbeing support team have had to dig deeper and people at the frontline have had to carry more than we hoped they would, because the need is so great and has broadened.

Stay sharp

Time out like this is how we acknowledge that broadening need as a sector. We must celebrate the efforts and quality support where it is given. We also reflect on what going deeper will look like. You need space for that. If it is only a day or, a couple of days a year, that is a small investment for gaining more of the knowledge that prepares our practitioners and supporters. It is a sign of valuing our workforces who need time to sharpen the iron and their hopefulness. 

That is what these spaces are, whether it is this conference or others. Without that, we end up with a blunt workforce, something none of us want. 

One day away from the frontline serves the frontline, because we come back sharper.