Editorial: Time to break stigma

Nuku Winiata Tawa wants to change the stigma associated with mental illness.

Hollywood certainly hasn't done any favours to those who suffer from mental illnesses, particularly schizophrenia.

In movies, schizophrenics are usually the bad guys or at the very least they are portrayed as crazed, delusional and often psychopathic.

While it might make for an entertaining movie it must make life difficult for those who live with the condition.

We should know better than to believe everything we see in the movies but it's hard to blame people for being uncomfortable around those with mental illnesses when that is the only experience they have had with it.

I was inspired by reading the story of Nuku Winiata Tawa in the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend.

The 23-year-old has schizophrenia. He hears voices.

He has been in and out of hospital numerous times but is now getting the support he needs at home and is doing well for himself. He has plenty of friends, has just finished a year-long course of study and is looking for a job.

And he is determined to do his part to help break the stigma around schizophrenia and mental illness.

I was shocked to read that, according to the recent Health Promotion Agency health and lifestyles survey of more than 2500 New Zealanders, only 41 per cent said they would be comfortable having someone such as Nuku home for diner and only 51 per cent would be happy to socialise with him. Just 59 per cent would play in the same sports team and only 65 per cent would be comfortable with him joining their club.

All because he has schizophrenia. Nuku's story made me stop and think.

It must be hard enough for people with mental illness to learn to manage their condition let alone having to deal with the stigma and people's attitudes towards it.

It's great to hear people with mental illness are no longer being institutionalised but taught how to live in the community and manage their conditions. It has to be better for them and their families.

Now, they need us to get behind them. They need us to understand their conditions and treat them normally.

People such as Nuku are putting themselves out there in an effort to break the stigma. We need to consider our attitudes and adjust them accordingly.