PART TIME  25hrs per week flexible

Health Action Trust is a dynamic and innovative Community Health Trust working in the areas of Health promotion and Mental Health Consumer peer support in Nelson.  We are looking for a skilled Administrator to work with the Manager and Staff here at Health Action.

We are seeking someone with

• Sound working knowledge of accounting packages, Quickbooks/MYOB

• Processing of accounts payable and receivable

• Great organisational skills

• Collaborative working style

• High levels of innovation and self motivation

• Sense of humour a must

• Highly developed computer skills

Experience in working with a payroll system would also be an advantage.

 For an application form and information pack please phone Edwina Takao on 03 548 2798 ext 0 or email weenie@healthaction.org.nz

Applications close at 9am Monday the 13^th February 2012, & can be mailed to P.O. Box 691, Nelson or emailed to the above address.

Health Action Trust is a dynamic and innovative community organisation working in the areas of Health Promotion and Mental Health Service User/Tangata Whai Ora Peer Support.  We are looking for a new person to work with the White House Inc., which is a Service User Led Day Activity programme based in the Nelson region.

We seek someone with experience and ability in the following areas:

• Knowledge and/or experience of mental health services
• Staff Management
• Business & Financial Planning & Management
• Relationship Building
• Funding and Contract management

 You will also have a commitment to the principles of Community Health Promotion, Service User-led Peer Support and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Health Action values collaboration, open communication, self motivation and an approachable and empathetic style of leadership. For a job description and application form, phone our Administrator Edwina Takao on 03 548 2798  or email weenie@healthaction.org.nz

Applications close at 5pm Monday 30^th January 2012, & can be mailed to PO Box 691, Nelson or emailed to the above address.

Five key alcohol harm-reduction strategies

You might see some letters to the editor in the Nelson Mail that we are sending this week, in response to a letter and article about alcohol issues affecting us locally. If you are concerned about the negative effects of alcohol, you can support the public health policies endorsed by the World Health Organization as most effective in reducing alcohol-related harm.

For more on this topic see http://alcoholaction.co.nz/node/56

Roger Brooking’s blog http://brookingblog.com/

about alcohol, drugs and justice issues.   Roger’s personal take on:

• The on-going failure of the justice system to mandate the 80% of offenders with alcohol and drug problems into treatment
• The lack of rehabilitation programmes available in prison (especially substance abuse) and
• The lack of accommodation and support available to prisoners when they come out.

There is also a section called Prisoners Stories. This will mostly contain personal stories from prisoners with alcohol and drug problems who have given Roger permission to write about and publish the lack of help they got from the justice system.

Click the subheading to open an 8-page PDF  list of help services for parents of teens and young adults in the Nelson / Tasman region (NZ).   
It contains local services’ contact details, 0800 phone services and websites under the following topics:

• Mental & Emotional Health 
• Legal Issues
• Physical / Learning Barriers
• Alcohol and Other Drugs
• Health / Sexual Health / Teens as Parents
• Social Wellbeing

Misuse of Drugs Act discussion

Petra Bagust interviews Peter Dunne & Ross Bell (NZDF) on the Misuse of Drugs Act current review.

 There are 144 recommendations by the Law Commission

The Act is expected to be updated during 2012.

In this interview, the following key points are made:

DUNNE:

• NZ needs to keep drug laws in tune with current realities.
• More needed in treatment field.
• Regarding “legal highs”: govt is leaning towards putting the onus of proof on supplier/manufacturer to prove safety of product prior to coming onto the market.
• Detail of classification system could be considered.

BELL

• Impossible to review the Act prior to election 2011.
• Drug problems are primarily health issues.
• Harm minimisation is best approach to take.
• Look at successful overseas models – eg diversion to help/assessment (been used in Australia during last decade.)
• Govt has responded on medicinal cannabis and legal highs (party pills) – but NZDF would like to see emphasis on health and reduction of costs associated in criminal justice system, and stigma/barriers to seeking help.

Hello Sunday Morning

HSM is an initiative to reduce demand for alcohol, started in Australia by Chris Raine and supported here in NZ by ALAC.

 Chris Raine is working hard to promote Hello Sunday Morning. It provides an opportunity for anyone, but especially young people who have not developed harmful patterns of drinking that will stay with them for the rest of their lives, to stop drinking alcohol for three months & take time out to think about their relationship with alcohol.

 Check out the website and the video here: http://hellosundaymorning.com.au/

Alcohol and other drugs – Terminology

The slogan for this year is “GET IN THE GAME, TRAINING FOR YOUR HAPPINESS”

Research tells us that there are five simple strategies that anyone can use to support and develop their own wellbeing…

1.  GIVE: 

It feels good to give.

Everybody has something to offer.How will you play your part?

2.  BE ACTIVE: 

Do what you can, enjoy what you do, be active and move your mood.

3.  TAKE NOTICE:

Take notice of the world around you. 

Savour the moment.  What are the simple things that bring you joy?

4.  Keep learning:

Keep learning throughout your life. 

Seek out new experiences and challenge yourself.

5.  CONNECT:

People are stronger when they pull together. 

Who could you connect with today?

Introduce any of these into your life at any time and you will begin to reap the benefits.  Start out small, keep training, and “Get in the Game”! 

Many of the activities you already participate in may include more than one of the five ways to wellbeing.  Building activities that incorporate all five is easier than it may sound.  For instance, in your business, agency, practice, organisation, school, club, family, or whānau you may already be achieving a level of all five ways to wellbeing.  We encourage you to identify what you are already doing well and how/where you could lift your game. 

Focusing on these five strategies for wellbeing during Mental Health Awareness Week is a great start but can you keep up the training and remain in the game for the rest of your life… we believe you can! 

For more information or further resources to help you “Get in the game” check out www.mentalhealth.org.nz 

or contact …

Hilary Genet – 03 546 1545

Sue Bateup – 03 548 2798 ext 5

Mental Health Awareness Week, October 2010

 NZ Fashion Icon and entrepreneur Denise L’Estrange-Corbet was keynote speaker at the second annual Business Forum on Mental Health Luncheon held at Trailways Hotel on 7^th October 2010, with over 60 attendees from local businesses and the health and social services.  This was part of the regular WHK Chamber monthly luncheons sponsored and hosted by the Chamber of Commerce to ensure business owners are aware of the key issues facing their business, and built on the successful luncheon hosted by the Business Forum and the Chamber of Commerce in 2009.

 Denise L’Estange-Corbet, and Andrew Bridge from WORKSTAR (representing The Business Forum on Mental Health), presented the advantages to businesses of improving mental health and well being, and  identified ways in which employers can make effective changes in their business practice to guard against stigma and discrimination relating to mental illness. 

 Sponsorship was obtained from The Mental Health Foundation, Tasman District Council and Ramazzini Health and Safety. This greatly assisted Health Action Trust who contributed the majority of project funding.

Uniquely New Zealand websites to help people who use drugs and their loved ones find solutions  to the health and social problems drug use has caused. The websites share  the stories, experiences, insight and hope of people who have been there – people who have used and abused drugs and found a way through.

http://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/the-benefit-in-doubt

1. 2.    THINKING DRUGS website (international discussion forum)

http://www.thinkingdrugs.org is a new website “for anyone who wants to make up their own mind about drugs. We’ll give you the cold hard facts and let you decide who’s right and who’s wrong.”

It’s currently surveying readers on “Is drug use so dangerous that the possession of a small quantity of a drug should be met with criminal sanctions?”
See what you think.

1. NZ-BASED DRUG DISCUSSION FORUM

http://www.tripme.co.nz/forums/index.php

Also, a link to notes for forum-users, regarding self-identification: SWIM

This is a 47-minute movie made in Taranaki, about cannabis use by young people, issues and possible solutions.

The film features 4 young Maori guys (mentored by two accomplished Maori musicians) who speak candidly about their cannabis use, and life aspirations.

I think it would be a good catalyst for discussion with young cannabis users, especially those at the dependent end of the spectrum.

The Website says: enquiries can be sent to co-producer Anand Rose anandrose@gmail.com

I have sent an enquiry about cost for copies or a screening in Nelson.  Will keep you posted if anything eventuates.

Cheers – Rosey

http://www.hidingbehindthegreenscreen.com/

Related media article from 26/08/2010: Judge on Drug Crusade

Departing Taranaki judge Rob Murfitt is a man on a mission.   He’s seen the sad, steady stream of offenders through his courts and the human toll of waste and misery in Taranaki Base Hospital’s mental health unit and he has made a connection – cannabis.  

The region’s Youth Court judge has brought together sponsors, youth workers and Kiwi music stars to produce a film documenting the dangers of the drug.   Judge Murfitt used to think cannabis had only mild short-term side effects, “but I don’t think that any longer”.

He says the drug is “rampant” in Taranaki and that virtually all of the chronic offenders are users.   ”With my work in the mental health ward it becomes startlingly obvious to me the connection between heavy cannabis use by young people and the onset of psychotic illness,” the judge said.   ”So I wanted to create a resource to be able to give to these young people that brings home the message.”

Hiding Behind the Green Screen cost about $35,000 to make and was partly funded by offenders themselves, who contributed about $6000 through fines and reparations. Shell also assisted with a substantial sponsorship.   It was produced by Waves psychologist Paora Joseph and features well-known Kiwi musicians Frances Kora, of Kora, and Rio Hemopo, of Trinity Roots and Fat Freddy’s Drop. Both have had their own struggle with “weed” and are now clean.   Judge Murfitt praised Mr Joseph for his creative genius and energy which had fuelled the project, which included filming in New Plymouth Prison.   ”He created the story line. And as the concept grew so did the cost,” he said with a smile.

He was grateful that professional film-makers had given the project hundreds of hours of their time without any guarantee of payment.  Mr Joseph said the documentary would be an invaluable, rare resource and learning tool and a legacy from Judge Murfitt to Taranaki youth.   ”There are very few documentaries or resources that allude to marijuana, so it was needed.”

Many of the troubled youth who went to Waves were faced with cannabis issues.  Further funding would be needed from the community for the cost of distribution.

The DVD will initially be available free to courts, mental health services, police, schools and CYF within Taranaki.

- Taranaki Daily News