Te Whāriki o te Ara Oranga and the KPI Programme present: Re-imagining mental health legislation that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi and human rights

“Listen to the people. They will tell you what to do.” – Judge Ken Mason

Submissions to the 2018 Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction gave a clear signal that the current Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 is out of step with human rights and modern models of mental health care. The submissions were a call to action for change to address persistent inequities for Māori and the continued use of seclusion and restraint.

The consultation process underway to repeal and replace the Mental Health Act provides a once in a generation opportunity to inform and shape legislation that upholds Te Tiriti o Waitangi and protects the human rights of people who access mental health services in Aotearoa.

While all parts of the process hold equal importance, members of Te Whāriki o te Ara Oranga (Whāriki) and the KPI Programme have indicated a special interest in contributing their perspectives to Part 7 – considering the use, or prohibition, of seclusion, restraint, or other restrictive practices.

To respond, Whāriki and the KPI Programme have partnered to deliver a special hui dedicated to section 7.4.2 of the Transforming our Mental Health Law discussion document.

The hui includes a panel of lived experience, technical and cultural experts who will wānanga and connect attendees with information and data to support individual and organisational submissions that address the use or discontinued use of seclusion, restraint and other restrictive practices.

Senior members of the Ministry of Health will also attend the hui to answer pātai attendees may have about the current Act and the submission process. Being able to hear from as many people as possible through the consultation period is important to the Ministry and they are welcoming this opportunity to listen.

Future-focused, this hui is set to inspire and enable attendees to re-imagine and discover what needs to happen to create legislation that shapes Te Tiriti informed, human-centred mental health services for tāngata whai ora now and into the future.

Note: this hui will not be recorded to ensure it remains a safe space for all panel members and attendees to share their views and experiences.

Click here to register for this special hui.