HEALTH EQUITY - Mental Health

The prevalence of smoking amongst mental health service users is higher than the norm and the same is true of nurses working in the mental health sector.    Smokefree Nurses have a Mental Health Strategy Leader who, in conjunction with colleagues and advisors, has been working on developing strategies to address this imbalance.

The Mental Health Strategy has been lead by Tio Sewell (Te Ao Maramatanga, left) and was blessed at the September 2010 Mental Health and Addiction Nurse Educator's Forum by kaumatua Tuta Niho Niho Haeroa (Uncle Beau, right).  Hineroa Hakiaha (Te Kaunihera o Nga Neehi Maori o Aotearoa, centre) was also present. The flowchart of the Mental Health Strategy can be found here.  Copies of the full strategy are available on request

At the July 2011 NZ College of Mental Health Nurses' Conference, Smokefree Nurses had an exhibition stand and sponsored several people to present.  Abstracts, presentations and literature are available:

Mark Wallace-Bell's, University of Canterbury, presentation (large file)

Fiona Howard's,(Coordinating Consumer Advisor, Canterbury DHB) presentation

Rebecca Missen's (Hawkes Bay DHB) abstract

Sharon Lawn - a Smokefree Future for All