17 December 2004
Community Support Agency Urges New Zealanders to Speak Up
A major provider of community mental health services says its Christmas wish is for the silent majority to be less
silent about their compassion for people with psychiatric illnesses.
Richmond Fellowship chief executive Dr Gerry Walmisley says there is a growing understanding about what it’s like to
have a mental illness and most New Zealanders are open-minded and supportive. But he says there is a vocal minority that
continues to peddle stigma and suspicion.
“We’ve seen some wonderful acts of kindness within communities around the country, but we’ve also seen some appalling
acts of bigotry and prejudice against vulnerable people who are trying to make their own personal journey towards a life
of independence.
“I firmly believe that most New Zealanders understand the reality of mental illness and are tolerant about people’s
difference – I just wish that more people were prepared to speak up when they hear people airing their prejudices in
public.”
Dr Walmisley says the Human Rights Act should be amended to prevent hate-speech against people with disabilities. “At
present hate-speech is illegal only if it’s made on the basis of racial difference. I believe it is time for this
legislation to be reviewed so that people with mental illness or intellectual disability have a similar level of
protection. In this day and age it is unacceptable for people to make claims that have no basis in fact and attempt to
alienate people who need the community’s protection.
“One in five New Zealanders will at some time in their life have to deal with a major mental illness. There has been
some excellent progress in breaking down stigma in recent years and it’s time we challenged the suspicion that some
people still cling to. We can do that by speaking up for people with mental illness when we hear others expressing their
prejudice.”
About Richmond Fellowship Richmond Fellowship is a major provider of community health and support services throughout
New Zealand. The Fellowship has developed specialist services for a range of purchasers including the Ministry of
Health, Crown Public Health, Child Youth and Family Service and District Health Boards.
Services include support programmes for people with mental, psychiatric or psychological illness, respite and emergency
support, consumer based drop-in services, specialist youth services and dual diagnosis services (including intellectual
disability/mental illness).
ENDS