Programme Areas

Mental health, Addictions - drug & alcohol

Programme Type

Peer / advocacy / group / family whānau support, Advocacy / group / family whānau support (AOD), Training - AOD, Training - mental health

Regions

South Auckland, East Auckland, North Auckland, West Auckland, Central Auckland

Age Groups

Youth / Rangatahi, Adult / Pakeke, Older adult / Kaumātua

Referral Types

Self referral, GP, DHB clinical services, Corrections

Description

Changing Minds leads collaborative social change projects aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination and improving mental health and wellbeing for communities and people. A consumer-led organisation, they also provide systemic advocacy for the rights of people with lived experience and up-to-date information on mental health and social development initiatives across Aotearoa.

We support self-determination and the right for people to have input into their own care and treatment paths. We recognise and value the diversity of human experience and strive to work innovatively to encourage positive social change, particularly in the areas of mental health and addictions.

These are the type of projects Changing Minds engages in:  

1. Hosting and supporting events that collect or disseminate information, increase awareness or understanding or raise the profile of mental health.
2. Sitting on Government, District Health Board, Funding and Services representative and advisory groups both by type of service or project, and by geographic region (regional/national/ international). The purpose of these groups is to advise on policy, improve service user experience, represent the “voice” of people with lived experience and share stories that will improve outcomes for people seeking recovery.
3. Play an education role by collecting and keeping up to date on the most recent information and research relating to mental health and addictions, including the eradication of stigma and discrimination and using our experience to help the media release relevant and helpful stories.
4. Mental health public education, consultancy and health promotion.
5. Being a community “Hub” for people with lived experience and their families to find information, support, activity and safety.
6. Working to a long term strategic plan that encompasses information, reach, gathering stories, promoting better mental health and personal and sector growth.
7. Work with the arts and health community in New Zealand and Internationally to capitalise on engaging methods of delivering health promotion messages and utilise holistic methods of telling and sharing stories as well as encouraging the individual, community and societal value of  self-healing, choice and autonomy.
8. We have available workspace in Mt Eden and welcome those in mental health or NGO community to come use the space. If you are supporting your community in Tāmaki Makaurau, or traveling for work/study and want to connect - let us know.