Discrimination

Promoting social inclusion for people who experience mental illness and addiction

The Mental Health Commission’s statutory obligations under the Mental Health Commission Amendment Act 2007 are to work independently and with others to:

1. promote better understanding of mental illness by the community;
2. reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and prejudice shown towards people with mental illness and their families and caregivers; and
3. eliminate inappropriate discrimination on the ground of mental illness against people with mental illness and their families and caregivers

The Commission aims to meet these statutory obligations by working within a social inclusion paradigm which promotes the ability of people who experience mental illness and addiction to fully participate in community.

The Commission’s strategic direction is informed by the destination presented in Te Hononga 2015: Connecting for greater well-being which provides that in 2015:

• stigma and discrimination will be rare

• exclusion will be culturally unacceptable

• rights will be upheld

The Commission’s work is concentrated in the following areas:

• Identifying barriers to social inclusion and working with agencies within the mental health and addiction sector and across sectors to promote inclusive policy and practices

• Chairing a multi-agency steering group to implement the Multi-Agency Anti-Discrimination Plan (MAP)

• Advocating for people who experience mental illness and addiction through its on-going advice to the Minister of Health

• Encouraging service user participation in all facets of the mental health and addiction sector and wider community

• Encouraging service user participation in its work through participation on the Sector Advisory Group which provides advice and feedback to the Commission

• Undertaking rights work for service users such as advocating for a better understanding of the human rights-based framework within mental health and addiction services

• Working with the media to promote responsible and accurate coverage of mental illness and addiction

• Keeping a watching brief over legislation before the House of Representative to ensure issues of discrimination and inclusion against people who experience mental illness and addiction are addressed in legislation

• Researching stigma, discrimination and social inclusion

• Holding forums that bring stakeholders together to discuss and gain a better understanding of stigma, discrimination and social inclusion.

During the decade 1998 – 2007 the Commission has undertaken a wide range of activities in response to its statutory functions under the Mental Health Commission Act 1998 to reduce stigma, prejudice and discrimination. A summary of activities can be found here. [link to archives page]

Publications, fact sheets and other resources on stigma, discrimination and social inclusion can be found here in our publications