History
On October 10 2008, World Mental Health Day, the Foundation celebrated its 30th anniversary and launched Change in Mind / Kia Puawai a Mua, a fabulous book about our history.
The Foundation's origins lie in the New Zealand Trust for the Foundations of Mental Health, established in 1974 to promote favourable early life experiences, seen as a foundation for good mental health.
In 1977 the Trust adopted broader objectives, aiming to promote the mental health and well-being of all inhabitants of New Zealand, and to further measures likely to prevent or reduce the incidence of mental ill health in the community.
Reflecting this, the Trust was renamed the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.
$2m from Telethon
The Mental Health Foundation began as a grant-giving body. In 1977, it received just over $2m raised in New Zealand's third Telethon, and over the next 10 years distributed $2.6m to many organisations involved in mental health education, prevention and research. Funds were also allocated to foundation projects designed to further its objectives.
In 1986, the Foundation ceased to award grants to others but continued its own work with funding from a combination of donations, grants and contracts for its regional and national activities.
Among other activities during its early years, the Foundation organised Mental Health Year 1978, convened conferences, workshops, and hui, including the 1989 World Congress for Mental Health, established its resource centre, developed information resources, and advocated on a wide variety of issues, such as law reform, violence and refugee mental health. Operating from Auckland initially, the foundation established regional offices in Christchurch in 1994 and Wellington in 1999.
A preferred approach of working alongside and facilitating other groups has seen the Foundation play a role in the establishment of many organisations, including women's refuges, the Problem Gambling Foundation and refugee centres.
Since its early days, the Foundation has provided a Resource & Information Service, with a comprehensive library on all aspects of mental health and illness, as well as producing its own information resources and publishing a variety of newsletters.
Advocacy & lobbying
The Foundation's work advocating for improved mental health services and lobbying for policy changes saw it taking a lead role in the establishment of the Mental Health Advocacy Coalition in 1994 and, over the years, the foundation has made regular submissions to Government on mental health-related issues.
Reflecting its long-standing commitment to reducing stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness, the foundation in 1998 became a founding provider for the Ministry of Health's Like Minds, Like Mine Programme.
From the 1980s, the Foundation has undertaken a variety of suicide prevention activities, culminating in the establishment in 1999 of Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand, a service that collects, manages and disseminates information on suicide prevention.
The Foundation continues a commitment to anti-discrimination, social inclusion and supporting consumer leadership.
Commitment to mental health promotion
Throughout its history, the Foundation has focused on promoting mental health and wellbeing. It currently uses a life-stages approach to mental health promotion, working with youth, adults and older people. Recent initiatives have included the establishment of the Foundation's Working Well programme to promote mentally healthy workplaces, and the Out of the Blue / Kia Marama depression campaign with a particular focus on men.
The Foundation has always recognised the unique place of tangata whenua and the Treaty of Waitangi has been an integral part of its Deed of Trust. Its strategic plan for 2006-2010 is built on a Maori framework that is inclusive of everyone.
On Friday October 10 2008, World Mental Health Day, the Mental Health Foundation celebrated its 30th anniversary and launched Change in Mind / Kia Puawai a Mua, a book about its history and documenting changing attitudes and advocacy for mental health in New Zealand. Read the Press Release
Buy the book from our Online Shop
