Hauora: Taha Hinengaro - Mental and Emotional Wellbeing

Tau mai rā te mauri āio, 

te mauri aroha,

te mauri o ngā mātua tīpuna.

Let the essence of peace and calm, 

of love and our forebears settle on us all. 

Please note

This story includes references to, and information about, suicide, self-harm, sexual relationships, and drugs and alcohol and is therefore suitable for secondary students. Younger viewers will require adult supervision and guidance.

BACKGROUND

Taha Hinengaro is part of Te Whare Tapa Whā, the Māori health model developed by Sir Mason Durie. 

The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand explains that 'Just like your physical health, your taha hinengaro/mental and emotional wellbeing needs to be taken care of. Taha hinengaro is your mind, heart, conscience, thoughts and feelings. It’s about how you feel, as well as how you communicate and think.' The Foundation also provides a fact sheet giving definitions of terms relating to mental health and wellbeing.

Mental illness is common in New Zealand. The first national survey on mental illness (published in 2006) found that 20% of New Zealanders experienced a mental disorder in a 12-month period, while 47% had at some stage in their life. 

Source:  Healthy Minds — Public health, Te Ara — the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 

CONTENTS

• Language, culture & identity: The links with mental health & wellbeing
• Māori and mental health & wellbeing
• Mental health & wellbeing and people of the Pacific
• Youth mental health & wellbeing
• LGBTIQ+  and mental health  
• Bullying and its effect on mental health & wellbeing
• The importance of sleep
• Mental health in the online world: Advice & support
• Relationships and loneliness
• Inspirational people
• The Arts and mental health & wellbeing
• Mental Health and sport
• Tips for being well
• Supporting wellbeing through whakataukī
• Getting help
• History of mental health services in Aotearoa
• Glossary.

LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND IDENTITY — THE LINKS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Research shows that connecting with and maintaining language, culture and identity is central to the mental health and wellbeing of all people living in Aotearoa. People develop these connections in many ways including:

• communicating in their own language or the language of their whānau 
• connecting with others in the community from the same culture
• attending festivals and celebrations of their culture
• cooking traditional dishes
• practising customary crafts
• expressing their cultural identity through the arts
• observing customary practices at home and at gatherings
• attending church
• belonging to cultural performance groups
• dressing in clothing or wearing symbols that reflect their culture
• passing on stories, knowledge and information about their culture
• keeping up to date with news and current events about their culture
• reading and learning about the history of their culture.

 Listen to well-known New Zealander's speak about Our unique culture in this video from the National Library's He Tohu website.

The Ministry of Education recognises the importance of language, culture and identity for the success, health and wellbeing of Māori students. The Ministry developed Ka Hikitia, a Māori education strategy that aims to see:

Māori students enjoying and achieving education success as Māori. When the vision is realised, all Māori students will have their identity, language and culture valued and included in teaching and learning in ways that support them to engage and achieve success.

Ka Hikitia goes on to say:

Māori language is the foundation of Māori culture and identity. Learning in and through Māori language is an important way for Māori students to participate in te ao Māori, and it supports students to connect with their identity as Māori. This is a strong foundation for well-being and achievement.

Several key understandings are linked to maintaining a connection to language, culture and identity and have a huge impact on mental health and wellbeing for Māori:

• whakapapa
• whanaungatanga
• manaakitanga
• tino rangatiratanga

Click on the words to learn more.

Identity is about how we see ourselves, and sometimes this can be different depending on our age, where we are, what we are doing or who we are with. Youthline explains some of the different aspects of identity here.

Understanding our identity can take time and for some it can be a difficult period in their lives. 

This short clip Who Are We? Teen Identity takes a slightly tongue in cheek look at identity from the perspective of a group of college students.

Statistics New Zealand Wellbeing data from 2018 examines peoples feelings about their ability to be themselves, which is closely linked with sense of identity:

• 83.8% of people felt that they had the ability to be themselves
• the group that found it most easy to be themselves were those over 75 years of age
• 88.5% of Europeans, 84% of Māori and 85.2% of Pacific peoples felt they could be themselves
• there was little difference in the degree to which males and females could be themselves
• by region, Northland had the highest percentage of people who felt they could be themselves, at 87.3%.

MĀORI AND MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

In pre-colonial times Māori held a supernatural view and distinguished between the insane (pōrangi, pōrewarewa, haurangi, pōtētē), the demented (wairangi, karearea), the intellectually disabled (karakiraki, pororirori) and people who were possessed by spirits (apa, mate kikokiko). 

Source: Mental health and mental illness — Mental health services, Te Ara — the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.

Experience of mental illness is more prevalent and severe among Māori than other ethnic groups. Likely contributing factors include the low socio-economic position of many Māori, and the high proportion of young people in the Māori population. Māori also experience poorer health, more frequent hospitalisation and have lower life expectancy than other groups.  Governments and health officials have tried to address this disparity by developing Māori mental health strategies and funding Māori-specific mental health services and providers.

Source: Healthy Minds — Public health, Te Ara — the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.

QUICK FACTS

The 2018 Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction concluded that:

• Māori experience mental stress at a rate that is 50% higher than non-Māori
• mental health issues are less likely to be diagnosed if you are Māori
• by several different measures, mental health outcomes are poorer for Māori
• Māori are more likely than other groups to be compulsorily treated under the Mental Health Act.

MENTAL HEALTH AND PEOPLE OF THE PACIFIC

Little was known about the prevalence of mental illness among Pacific Island people until 2006, when the first national survey of mental illness was published. This survey found that Pacific Island people had higher rates of mental illness than other ethnic groups (apart from Māori). These findings contradicted previous beliefs that Pacific Island people had low levels of mental illness. In response, efforts were made to improve the Pacific mental health workforce and develop culturally specific services. 

Source:  Healthy Minds — Public health, Te Ara — the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 

The Ministry of Health report Pacific Peoples and Mental Health, 2008 says:

The traditional Pacific belief related to mental health is that disturbed behaviour is a manifestation of an external spiritual force, especially ancestral spirits who have taken possession of the person because the person or the person’s family have broken a certain custom or offended the spirits in some way. There is a common belief across Pacific cultures that ancestors have a constant spiritual and physical communication with current generations.

Pacific peoples view mental health as an intrinsic component of overall health. Pacific cultures do not have words that translate easily into ‘mental illness’, and mental health is considered to be inseparable from the overall wellbeing of the body, soul and spirit.

QUICK FACTS

The 2018 Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction concluded that: 

• Pacific peoples have consistently high mental health needs
• use of mental health services is low among Pacific peoples
• Pacific peoples' suicide rates are lower than both Māori and non-Māori rates
• however, suicide rates for youth are high, particularly among young men.

There are several health models developed by and for Pacific peoples:

• Fa’afaletui – Carmel Peteru and Kiwi Tamasese (Samoan)  
• Fonofale – Karl Pulotu Endemann (Samoan) 
• Fonua model – Sione Tu‟itahi (Tongan)
• Kakala – Konai Helu-Thaman (Tongan) 
• Ta and Va – Okusitino Mahina (Tongan)
• Te Vaka Atafaga – A Tokelauan assessment model
• Tivaevae – Teremoana Maua-Hodges (Cook Islands) 

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

Health Navigator New Zealand tells us that 'Everyone has tough times, but teenage and younger adult years can bring some extra challenges.'

Health professional agree that seeking help is key to improving wellbeing, and doing this early, rather than trying to cope on your own, is the best advice.

Our Topic Explorer set Teen Issues has other valuable resources and information around mental health and wellbeing for teens.

The Ministry of Education's School Leavers' Toolkit has Taking care of myself and others - Te Tiaki i ahau anō me ētahi atu, a great resource with sections on:

• Alcohol and other drugs
• Disability support services
• Gender identity and sexuality
• Harassment and bullying
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Racism and other forms of discrimination
• Relationships
• Sexual health

QUICK FACTS 

The 2018 Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction concluded that: 

• compared to the older generation, young New Zealanders are more likely to experience mental distress
• Aotearoa continues to have one of the highest rates of youth suicide in the OECD
• in 2000 a survey of 16-18-year-olds indicated that up to half had engaged in self-harm
• groups of youth more at risk from mental distress include Māori, Pacific, Rainbow, and disabled people. 

LGBTQI+ AND MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or intersex, or being someone who doesn't fit neatly into any of these categories, can be challenging within our society, particularly for young people.

Stats NZ - Tatauranga Aotearoa gathers wellbeing data. Their page New sexual identity data reflects the diversity of New Zealanders has up to date information about diversity in Aotearoa. The data tells us that:

...one-third (35 percent) of those identifying as bisexual experienced ‘poor’ mental wellbeing and one-fifth of straight/heterosexual and gay/lesbian people (22 percent and 21 percent, respectively). 

The Ministry for Youth Development surveyed young people in Aotearoa and has developed Youth Plan 2020-2022, that identified LGBTQI+ youth as one of their priority groups.

Places to seek support include RainbowYOUTH, Skylight, and OutlineNZ. These organisations provide a range of affirming support including things like counselling, details of support groups throughout the country, stories from young people and more.

BULLYING AND ITS EFFECT ON MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

The Ministry of Education tells us that:

Bullying happens at every school.  It takes many forms - physical, verbal and social - and it can happen in person, online and even via text message.

Studies show children and young people who are bullied are more likely to be depressed, lonely or anxious; to have low self-esteem and to struggle academically; dislike school and miss classes; distrust peers and have problems making friends; and experience declined mental and emotional health.

Check out bullyingfreenz for advice and resources developed for students dealing with bullying. You can also watch videos made by New Zealand students about bullying.

Access the National Library Topic Explorer set on Bullying here.

RELATIONSHIPS AND LONELINESS

Young people are often seen as having ‘short and sweet’ relationships. However, a study of 17–19-year-olds in the early 2000s found that most of those in relationships had been together for 6–12 months. Almost a third indicated that their longest relationship had lasted between one and five years. These findings suggest that young people’s relationships are not always brief.  

Source:  Young people — Sexualities, Te Ara — the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.  

Relationships have a huge impact on mental health and wellbeing. Research shows that healthy relationships improve mental health, but when relationships are unhealthy, this has the reverse effect. The health of relationships within family or friend groups can also affect people even if they are not directly involved.

Relationships are not just about being a partner, girlfriend or boyfriend, but also include relating to people like:

• family members
• friends and peers
• teachers
• neighbours
• teammates
• workmates
• employers.

This easy to read article, The Importance of Teen Friendship discusses a number of important issues related to friendships during the teenage years, including the most important things to know about being a good friend, and the benefits of friendships for mental health and wellbeing.

Here are some other resources focused on relationships:

Am in a healthy relationship? — it's totally normal to look at the world through rose-coloured glasses in the early stages of a relationship. But for some people, those rose-coloured glasses turn into blinders that keep them from seeing that a relationship isn't as healthy as it should be. 

Relationships — information from Youthline about girlfriends and boyfriends, breaking up, being single and separation and divorce.

Relationships Ngā tūhonotanga — New Zealand Family Planning resource with information about sexual relationships.

Loneliness also affects many young people. Find out about how loneliness impacts mental health through these two sets of statistics from Statistics NZ, Loneliness in New Zealand: Findings from the 2010 New Zealand General Social Survey and Wellbeing data for New Zealanders, Loneliness. 

This data shows that young people report higher levels of loneliness than other groups, and young people who are experiencing mental distress are more likely to feel lonely. 

There's also great information, advice and support available from Loneliness NZ written especially for young people.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP

There are strong links between sleep and mental health and wellbeing. Visit Helping teenagers sleep better from the Ministry of Health, or listen to this story from Radio New Zealand about How to get enough sleep.  

Here are some other places where you can find out more:

Common sleep problems  — many teens don't get enough sleep, usually, because they're busy and tend to skimp on sleep. 

Healthy Sleep — information about the need for regular and uninterrupted sleep from Teen Mental Health. 

Helping teenagers sleep better  — tips and advice from the Ministry of Health.

How much sleep do I need?  — most teens need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. 

Sleep Q&A for Teens — find the answers to some common questions about sleep.

MENTAL HEALTH IN THE ONLINE WORLD: ADVICE AND SUPPORT

Research in recent years has identified a connection between the use of social media and mental health and wellbeing.  This HelpGuide details the positive and negative effects of using social media and helps people to think about what they are using and why. It also gives many practical tips on how to make changes to improve wellbeing.

Below are some more resources that may also be helpful.

ICON - In Case of Online Negativity — most of the time online's fine. When it's not, there's ICON.

Managing time online — if you feel like the time you’re spending online is making you feel unhappy or having a negative impact on other parts of your life then it might be worth looking at some ways to cut down. 

Netsafe Youth Action Squad — empowering young people to speak up, take action and support each other on the online safety issues that affect them.

Online Gaming Advice — online gaming is enjoyed by many young people, but there are some risks worth thinking about. We’ve put together some tips about what to look out for and ideas for staying safe while you play. 

Safe online relationships — relationships are complex and sometimes it can be hard to know if what the person you are dating is doing are normal relationship behaviours. If you’re worried, this advice may help. 

Social media vs reality — how can you tell the difference between social media and reality? We’ve put together a few things worth thinking about if social media is getting you down. 

Staying Safe Online Guide — Netsafe's reference guide.

Support for LGBTQIA+ people — bullying and harassment based on your sexuality, sex characteristics and gender identity can make you feel isolated or alone, and make it difficult to explore and express your identity. 

INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE

In 2017 a group of Māori rangatahi from Rotorua united in calling for Kiwis to talk about mental health and suicide, making a film, Time to Talk, that was viewed by many through social media channels.

Have a look at some more inspirational stories about people who have experienced mental distress and what they do now to help themselves and others going through tough times.

Amanda Southworth — fifteen-year-old Amanda Southworth discusses how her struggle with mental illness and suicidal thoughts inspired her to start coding. She used this outlet as a tool to develop apps designed to help others stop suffering in silence and find the courage to reach out and change their life.  

Angela Lim — Angela Lim is a doctor, board director and entrepreneur who has an ambition to transform the mental health system through technology. 

Brando Yelavich — read about Wildboy and what prompted him to undertake a journey of more than 8,000 kilometres. On foot. In just 600 days. 

Bree Tomasel — radio host Bree Tomasel has experienced mental distress from a young age.  She shares her story about living with anxiety and what she does to get through.  

Ezekiel Raui — at only 21 years of age, mental health advocate Ezekiel Raui has accomplished some incredible achievements and says he owes his success to his whānau.  

George Glover — Marlborough teen George Glover set himself the goal of swimming the length of Queen Charlotte Sound twice, a distance of more than 80 kilometres, the equivalent of four Cook Strait crossings, to raise awareness and funds for youth mental health charity I AM HOPE. 

iTaukean Shaneel Lal — in high school Shaneel began working with the rainbow community and started a peer support group for queer youth, that was just the beginning of his journey.  

Jazz Thornton — listen to Jazz Thornton speak about how she learnt the vital difference between surviving and fighting and now shares the practical ways she fought through 9 years of suicidal tendencies.   

Jody Burrell — Jody Burrell, a co-founder at CoLiberate, bravely shares some of her own mental health story and encourages young people to engage in self-care.

John Kirwan — ex-All Black Sir John Kirwan talks about his new mental health initiative, Mentamia.

Kira Evenden — after writing a speech about mental health at school, Kira is to become a youth mental health advocate.

Lucy McSweeney — Lucy is campaigning for better mental health education in schools and has presented a petition to parliament.

Mehwish Mugal — project lead of Asian Mental Health Project offers personal insight into why the mental health concerns of Asian communities need to be addressed.

Mike King — in 2019 Mike King was named New Zealander of the year for his work around mental health.

Rangimarie Mita — basketball player Rangimarie shares his anxiety story and his journey towards being well.

Whaiora Patrick — Whaiora Patrick knows all too well the shame and stress of child poverty and how badly it can affect your mental health and wellbeing growing up: she’s been there. 

THE ARTS AND MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Expressing yourself through the arts can be a great way to work through difficult feelings and emotions. 

Here are links to articles and stories about the experiences of people involved in visual art, dance, drama, music and creative writing.

A Glimpse into Mental Health: Aurelia's Story  —  Aurelia's photography is reflected by her mood and it's an indicator to what she's feeling; her highs are extremely high and her lows hit rock bottom. 

Celia Painter & Abbie Krieble —  good things come from bad experiences. That’s what 17-year-old Celia Painter believes after her struggle with anxiety and depression led to her co-creating her first book with Abbie Krieble.

Eight artworks inspired by mental health problems— artwork by artists from around the world dealing with mental distress.

Mike Sorenson - Dancing through Depression — Hamiltonian Mike Sorenson spends his days fixing cars, but his spare time is dedicated to dancing and creating work that gets people talking about tough issues like mental health.  

Ngā Rangatahi Toa — an immersive and intensive programme that uses creative arts and wellbeing programmes to help connect rangatahi with their purpose and to imagine a positive future for themselves.

Pasifika-led theatre tackles mental health issues — the play Odd Daphne aims to raise awareness about the mental wellbeing of Pasifika families.  

Dance star Ruthy Pearce  —  she's danced for superstars such as Justin Bieber, Psy and Ciara, she has over 100,000 social media followers and to the public, her life seems perfect.

Savage — NZ hip-hop legend Savage has released a moving video to accompany his song ‘Reach Out’, which he wrote to support those struggling with mental wellbeing.   

Teen finds solace in poetry —  putting pen to paper and expressing how he's feeling takes Taylor Baistow's mind off some of his problems. 

Voicing Māori issues for the world through slam poetry —  colonisation, cultural oppression, abuse, depression and mental illness - some of the issues that the four young wahine Māori of slam poetry group Ngā Hine Pūkorero are taking to the world. 

MENTAL HEALTH AND SPORT

Being involved in sport is good for mental health and wellbeing, particularly playing team sports. There can be downsides too, as even young people can feel the pressure of expectations from whānau, coaches and their peers.

Check out some of these articles about sportspeople who have opened up about their experiences of coping with mental distress.

All Blacks talk about mental health — George Bridge, Anton Lienert-Brown and Rieko Ioane speak to RNZ about the challenges they've faced and the tools they use to keep their minds healthy. 

Kyle Jamieson goes into bat for mental health — Black Cap Kyle Jamieson talks about the pressure of being involved with sport at the highest levels.

Michael Phelps — the decorated Olympic swimmer shares his journey with depression and discusses the impact of other athletes coming forward with stories of their own struggles with mental health.  

Mini golf odyssey for mental health — 'Par Four' kicked off their nationwide tour in Auckland, with the money they raise going to the Mental Health Foundation.  

Netball and mental health  —  Australian netballer Shami Layton opens up about her depression battle.

Reviving New Zealand youth sport —  some sporting bodies are looking at ways to make sport more fun for kids.

Youth suicide prevention programme targets sports coaches  —  coaches are the mentors and role models to young players during the season and funding is aimed at finding a way to help them be better prepared for dealing with the mental state of players.

TIPS FOR BEING WELL

The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand provides Wellbeing Tips:

• Find ways to connect
• Find ways to take notice
• Find ways to move your tinana
• Find ways to give
• Find ways to keep learning
• Connect with the whenua
• Stick to your routine (or start a new one)
• Explore different ways to relax
• Limit the amount of news you follow

Other ways to improve or maintain mental health and wellbeing include:

• give compliments
• think about what you are grateful for
• practice mindfulness 
• use affirmations
• try breathing exercises or try Hikitia Te Hā
• work on balancing time spent working, sleeping, eating, exercising etc.
• volunteer or become involved in your community
• identify at least one person you trust and can talk to honestly.

SUPPORTING WELLBEING THROUGH WHAKATAUKĪ

Ehara taku toa 

i te toa takitahi 

engari he toa takitini. 

I come not with my own strengths but bring with me the gifts, talents and strengths of my family, tribe and ancestors.

Reading and learning whakataukī is a great way to use mātauranga Māori to support wellbeing. The Ministry of Education tells us that:

Whakataukī are used in a range of contexts in Māori such as whaikōrero to support the speaker in making a point, a statement, aligning the present with the wisdom of tīpuna/ tūpuna. Whakataukī are metaphors that support critical thinking by allowing the receiver of the whakataukī to consider another way of thinking from a worldview other than their own.

There are many whakataukī available in books and online. Visit the Kapiti Coast District Council website or Massey University to see examples of just a few.  

GETTING HELP - APPS

Aroha chatbot — chatbot to help young people cope with stress.

Breath2Relax — an app for people wanting to learn relaxation breathing techniques to manage stress and anxiety. 

Clearhead — like having a mental health support person in your head 24/7.

Mindshift — choose from a list of situations you want help with such as ‘dealing with conflict’ and ‘coping with test anxiety’ and make a plan to for coping.

Smiling Minds — a daily mindfulness and meditation guide at your fingertips.

Virtual Hope Box — an app that helps people cope with anxiety, depression and mood disorders. 

GETTING HELP - PHONE, CHAT, EMAIL, TEXT 

1737, need to talk?— free call or text anytime 24 hours a day to speak to a trained counsellor.

Depression helpline — call 0800 111 757 if you are dealing with the tough times. Take a small step by getting ideas or support on how to take care of yourself and others. 

Kidsline — 0800 KIDSLINE (0800 54 37 54) is New Zealand’s telephone counselling service for all kids up to 18 years of age. 

Lifeline — call 0800 LIFELINE (0800 543 354) or text HELP (4357) for free, 24/7, confidential support.

Need to talk?— free call or text 1737 any time, 24 hours a day. You’ll get to talk to (or text with) a trained counsellor. 

OUTLine — call 0800 688 5463 any evening between 6-9 pm for confidential, free, LGBTIQ+ affirming support line and face-to-face counselling. 

The Lowdown — call 0800 111 757, text 5626 for straight-up answers when life sucks. 

RainbowYOUTH — online support chat between 2-4 pm Monday to Friday for any person in Aotearoa (aged 13-27) who is looking for guidance, support, or advice around sexuality, gender identity, and intersex status.   

Samaritans Aotearoa New Zealand — 0800 72 66 66, confidential, non‑judgemental & non‑religious support if you are experiencing loneliness, depression, despair, distress or suicidal feelings.

Suicide Crisis Helpline— 0508 TAUTOKO is a free, nationwide service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is operated by highly trained and experienced telephone counsellors who have undergone advanced suicide prevention training. 

What's Up? —  0800 942 8787, a safe place to call or chat online about anything at all.

Youthline — 0800 376 633, or free text 234. Free counselling by phone, text, chat, Skype and in person. 

GETTING HELP — ONLINE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

Aunty Dee — if your problems are getting you down, messing you up or just plain muddling with your brain, see Aunty Dee.  

Bounce — Bounce is a bunch of tips, ideas and inspiration to help you live life well. This youth-led project developed by New Zealand Red Cross is for young people & by young people. 

Depression.org.nz — a raft of resources, including wellbeing for Māori and Pasifika peoples. 

Feeling Good — tips for young people about how to improve the way they might feel.

Just a thought - free online learning to improve your wellbeing.

Kauwhau Whakaohooho — this online series is designed by rangatahi for rangatahi, and aims to bring them together in a safe online space to have online conversations with the hope to inspire and act. 

Le Va — our purpose is to support Pasifika families and communities to unleash their full potential and have the best possible health and wellbeing outcomes.

Mental wellbeing for kids — watch these videos from Australian psychologist Karen Young about mental wellbeing for kids. 

Mental wellbeing for teens — watch these videos from Australian psychologist Karen Young about mental wellbeing for teens. 

Skylight — a series of videos of rangatahi talking about suicide.

SPARX — a free online e-therapy tool that has been proven to help young people with mild to moderate depression and anxiety.  

Teenage Self-harm — features interviews with young people about why they've self-harmed and how they have managed to stop. 

The Great Mental Health Experiment — a New Zealand made series of videos with real life examples of how simple everyday activities can support your mental health. 

The Lowdown — straight-up answers for when life sucks. 

What's Up?— a safe place for you to talk about anything at all.

HISTORY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN AOTEAROA

In the 1840s mentally ill people were held in prisons, as there was nowhere else to care for them. From the 1860s asylums were built around the country. The main treatment was physical work and exercise. Violent or dangerous patients were sometimes tied up and restrained. People with mental illness were generally seen as incurable. 

After the First World War many soldiers suffered from shell shock (trauma from their war experiences). They were treated with dignity and compassion, and encouraged to talk about what had caused their illness. The success in treating former soldiers meant that the same techniques were applied to other patients. From the late 1930s new treatments and drugs became available to treat mental illness. These changed the character of institutions, which became known as psychiatric hospitals rather than mental hospitals.

From the 1970s there was a move to care for mentally ill people outside of large institutions. By the 1990s almost all psychiatric hospitals had closed and patients moved into community care.  

Source:  Mental hospitals, 1910s to 1930s — Mental health services, Te Ara — the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.

QUICK FACTS

• New Zealand's first asylum opened in Karori in Wellington in 1854 and could cater for up to 100 patients.
• Before purpose-built facilities appeared, gaols were used to house the mentally ill throughout the country.
• Other early institutions included Whau in Auckland, and Seaview in Hokitika.
• Truby King was influential in improving conditions for patients in asylums during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
• The return of soldiers from WW1 suffering from shell-shock resulted in improved treatment for all patients through the development of early forms of psychotherapy.
• From the 1930s, ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) that passed an electrical current through the brain, was a commonly used treatment for many forms of mental illness.
• Well-known New Zealand author Janet Frame was a patient at Dunedin Public Hospital, Seacliff Mental Hospital, Sunnyside Mental Hospital, and Avondale Mental Hospital throughout the 1940s and 50s, where she received ECT, among other treatments, for schizophrenia.
• From the 1960s attitudes towards mental health began to change and by the 1970s most patients were treated in the community rather than in institutions.
• The 1990s saw the greatest advancement in mental health services, including inquiries into existing services, greater emphasis on prevention, and special provisions for Māori, who were over-represented in mental health statistics.

Find out more from this fascinating document from 1896, Lunatic Asylums in New Zealand.

GLOSSARY

Definitions below taken from the Oxford Learner's Dictionary and Te Aka. 

asylum— a hospital where people who were mentally ill could be cared for, often for a long time

conscience— the part of your mind that tells you whether your actions are right or wrong

contradicted— (of statements or pieces of evidence) to be so different from each other that one of them must be wrong

compulsorily— in a way that must be done or accepted

demented— behaving in a crazy way because you are extremely upset or worried

disparity— a difference, especially one connected with unfair treatment

gaol—  jail (= a prison)

incurable — that cannot be cured

institution — a building where people with special needs are taken care of, for example because they are old or mentally ill 

psychiatric —  relating to psychiatry or to mental illness 

psychotherapy — the treatment of mental illness by discussing somebody’s problems with them rather than by giving them drugs 

prevalent — that exists or is very common at a particular time or in a particular place 

provisions — the act of supplying somebody with something that they need or want; something that is supplied 

restrained — to stop somebody/something from doing something, especially by using physical force 

schizophrenic  — a person who suffers from schizophrenia 

socio-economic  — relating to society and economics 

supernatural — that cannot be explained by the laws of science and that seems to involve gods or magic 

TE REO MĀORI

mātauranga— knowledge, wisdom, understanding, skill

tīpuna/tūpuna — ancestors, grandparents

tinana — body

whaikōrero— to make a formal speech

whakataukī— proverb, significant saying

whenua — land, ground

This story was curated and compiled by Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa | National Library of New Zealand, Services to Schools staff, September 2020.