Some of the topics I’m really passionate about are kind of ground-breaking things for a candidate to focus on. I always feel quite nervous writing about hard issues, but candidacy for me is all about speaking out for those who can’t. Tonight I’m going to talk about mental health, and specifically self-harm.

My journey through life has brought me into contact with many young men and women who self harm. Many of these people are abuse or violence survivors – a group of the population whose self harm rate is quite high.

A lot of people don’t understand self harm, and think it’s a selfish cry for attention from someone who is obviously disturbed. That’s not really true. Most people who self harm cut themselves or overdose because they have no other way of dealing with the hurt they feel inside. Some are hurting so badly that they feel crippled with pain and cannot cope at all. Self harm provides them with a form of temporary release from unbearable distress. Hiding it is common – most don’t want anyone to know what they are doing. It’s really important that society understands that this isn’t about attention – it’s not. It’s about unbearable agony. Agony that should be treated with empathy, love and hope.

That’s why I really support international organisations like TWLOHA (To Write Love On Her Arms) - http://www.twloha.com/vision/. Their vision is truly extraordinary yet so simple to implement. It’s all about hope. And hope is a precious commodity at the best of times. Those of you who check my Twitter will see I proudly carry a TWLOHA skin, and it’s because I really believe in these guys and gals.

Unfortunately, many people who self harm in NZ are treated badly by our mental health system.  Often, they are diagnosed with ‘borderline personality disorder’, which seems to be a catch all diagnosis  given when psychiatrists don’t really know what to do. Therapists have told me self harmers can be automatically put in a ‘too hard basket’ by many DHB staff. I have spoken to patients who were told by professionals that there was no cure. No hope. Nothing. This is tragic. We MUST do better for our vulnerable than sew their arms up, pump their stomach and biff them back into a world they find difficult to handle.

Here is the news article that prompted an immediate letter to the editor from me and gave me the passion to speak out on self harm and its shocking lack of treatment by our health system. It’s been a few months, but I am still enraged.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/4042809/Girl-held-in-custody-despite-concerns

The Green Party expects better from our health system than this.  We support the recovery approach to mental health. The term 'recovery' refers to the ability to live well in the presence or absence of mental illness. Recovery can happen when service users are meaningfully involved in decisions about their health and treatment options, and when services are coordinated. The Green Party advocates a balanced, integrated approach to mental health which on the one hand supports the recovery model, while at the same time recognising the necessity for well resourced mental health services appropriate to every level of need.

New Zealand CAN do better for its hurting, vulnerable citizens. And better means effective treatment, not a cell.

This beautiful and moving Youtube clip was done by some TWLOHA fans, and it always brings a tear to my eye. It’s full of spelling mistakes yet they don’t take away from its power.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F7bVmLb1nM