Seven Real Skills | Challenging Discrimination

Strong advocacy for eliminating discrimination

Workers with this set of skills will ensure that people working in health are strong advocates for the elimination of discrimination relating to mental health and addiction.

Essential level resources

Resources for everyone working in health, regardless of role, profession or organisation.

Real language, real hope is a language resource adapted from "Recovery Language" by Otto Wahl. It highlights the impact the words we choose can have on our own attitudes as well as on those around us.
Language matters poster is a language resource by Matua Raḵi that provides more person-centric language options to use when discussing addiction.
MH101 and Addiction 101 workshops help people increase their knowledge and confidence to understand and recognise mental health, addiction and wellbeing challenges.
Mental health stigma reduction guidelines from Changing Minds aim to reduce the stigma and discrimination faced by those who have experienced mental health issues.
Discrimination: What you do makes the difference is as short resource from Like Minds Like Mine that raises awareness of ways to reduce discrimination.
Supporting people with alcohol and drug issues is a video featuring Dr Siobhan Trevallyan and people with lived experiences of alcohol and drug issues discussing how primary health professionals can improve health outcomes for people.
Understanding bias in health care by the Health Quality & Safety Commission. The series of three online learning modules has been endorsed by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners for professional development points.
New Zealand Health Survey provides data and reporting about population-level disparities in health.
Wai 2575 Health Services and Outcomes Kaupapa Inquiry webpage provides updates and resources about the Wai2575 inquiry into a range of issues relating to the health system, specific health services and outcomes, including health equity for Māori.

Enhanced level resources

For everyone working in mental health and addiction roles

Mental Health Annual Reports and Monitoring and Advocacy Report of the Mental Health Commissioner presents data highlighting current challenges and disparities in mental health and addiction.
Equally Well is a collaborative of people and organisations with the common goal of achieving physical health equity for people who experience mental health and addiction issues. The webpage provides information, resources and tools to help reduce discrimination and poorer health outcomes for people who experience mental health and addiction issues.
Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service provides free and independent advocacy services to support complaint resolution.
Employment – for people experiencing mental health issues section on the Te Pou website provides information about projects that aim to increase access to evidence-based supported employment services.
Employment Support & Addiction: What Works is learning resource from the Centre of Mental Health (UK) and Wise Group (NZ). It highlights issues around access to employment, the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach to supporting employment, and examples from the UK and NZ.
Housing First initiatives across the country provide immediate access to housing for people who may be experiencing mental health and addiction issues, without needing to meet certain conditions.
Reducing seclusion and restraint: Working with Māori section on the Te Pou website describes strategies to reduce the use of seclusion and restraint with Māori.

Leadership level resources

For everyone who is leading, guiding, educating and resourcing the work of others in health

Service user, consumer and peer workforce: Resources to help grow and develop the peer workforce section of the Te Pou website provides resources about the values and competencies necessary for the peer workforce.
Co-Production: Putting Principles into Practice in Mental Health Contexts was developed to guide the implementation of co-production in Victoria, Australia. It provides an overview about the importance of co-production and the core principles and steps involved, as well as case studies.
The World Drug Perception Problem: Countering Prejudices about People Who Use Drugs is a report by Global Commission on Drug Policy which highlights the need for change in perceptions of drugs and drug policies.
Reducing Stigma Towards AOD Service Users from the AOD Provider Collaborative summarises literature and focus group findings about stigma in alcohol and drug (AOD) services, and outlines recommendations for reducing stigma for people who experience AOD issues.

(Please see the Working with Communities section for additional resources about social and community inclusion.)

Challenging discrimination

Strong advocacy for eliminating discrimination

Essential level resources

Enhanced level resources

Leadership level resources

Key Contacts

Related Initiatives

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