NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Mental Health Foundation slams Health Minister's 'disappointing' language

NZ Herald
12 Mar, 2020 03:10 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Health Minister David Clark reacts to the US travel ban on Europe. Video / Derek Cheng

The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) of New Zealand has criticised Health Minister David Clark's choice of words of advice during the coronavirus outbreak.

On the day the World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 a global pandemic, Clark urged New Zealanders to take every step to protect themselves and those around them and to take the pandemic seriously.

"Our director-general of health in New Zealand has been saying this is a pandemic in all but name for quite some time. We have been operating off our pandemic plan since early January," the minister told The AM Show this morning.

"What it does highlight is that people do need to take this seriously."

"If people are feeling unwell, don't go out. The message… about washing your hands thoroughly. This is the time for OCD," he said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Give your hands a really thorough wash and dry regularly, if you are going to cough, cough into your elbows. But best of all, stay away from other people if you are not feeling well."

The MHF has released a statement criticising the minister's choice of words, calling it "disappointing" and saying the minister resorted to "thoughtless stereotypes about OCD".

READ MORE: Coronavirus: Health minister David Clark says New Zealand has no plans to ban travel

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It's not time for New Zealanders to get an often-debilitating mental illness. It's simply time to wash your hands to safeguard our whānau and communities. No need resort to thoughtless stereotypes about OCD."

In a statement circulating on social media, the MHF pointed out the dangers of stigmatising people who live with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

"We are disappointed by the Minister of Health's choice of words this morning. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is a mental health condition that can be debilitating. It is widely misunderstood and the myth that people who live with OCD are just extra-committed to cleanliness creates barriers to recovery, treatment and understanding. Flippant use of the term 'OCD' contributes to misunderstandings and strengthens these barriers and we would have hoped the Minister of Health would have been more mindful of this and chosen his words more carefully.

"It is not time for New Zealanders to all experience a debilitating mental illness – it is simply time for all of us to commit to stringent hygiene practices that will safeguard our whānau and communities. This message can be conveyed without resorting to thoughtless stereotypes about OCD that dilute the seriousness of the condition and make it hard for those who do experience to get help and understanding," the statement added.

"People who live with OCD experience repeated and obsessive intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images or urges. These cause great anxiety and can be extremely distressing. People try to find different ways to find relief or ease their distress by engaging in compulsions – repeated actions or behaviours that they feel driven to do, even when they know they are unnecessary or don't make sense. Often, performing the compulsive action makes people feel a little better at first, but their anxiety returns and compulsive behaviour can escalate.

This morning, the Minister of Health, when talking about guidance to wash hands regularly, stated that "This is the time...

Posted by Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand on Wednesday, 11 March 2020

"For some people, these obsessions and compulsions take over their lives and cause significant distress and disruption, impacting their ability to work, take part in society and have supportive relationships.

"Obsessions and compulsions about cleanliness are not uncommon for people who have OCD, but they are not the only way people experience OCD. For those who do experience obsessions and compulsions about cleanliness, it's important to understand this is not just a general desire to live in a clean and tidy environment. Their cleaning behaviours are driven by a deep anxiety that, for example, if they do not perform these behaviours then something terrible will happen to them, their whānau or the world. For the most part, they know these fears are not rational but that does not diminish the strong feelings they are experiencing, and this causes frustration and low self-esteem."

The MHF also said that a lot of people who suffer from anxiety disorders have been feeling increased distress over Covid-19 and disorders such as OCD can be triggered by this type of stress.

READ MORE:
• NZ experts paint picture of coronavirus 'worst-case scenario' and how we can prevent it
• Coronavirus: US President Donald Trump bans travel from Europe to the US
• Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson test positive for coronavirus
• Coronavirus: Picture of migrant worker dressed as box of hand sanitiser sparks global outrage

"We urge everyone who is talking about the virus to be mindful of this and seek to ensure people have enough information to feel confident and reassured that they can look after their own health and the health of the people around them without inciting panic or anxiety."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

On social media, people applauded MHF's position and called out the use of "flippant" language.

"Thank you for addressing this. As someone diagnosed with OCD it is already incredibly hard to get people to understand the problem, we don't need people using the term 'OCD' this way. It really irritates me when used like this as these people have no idea what we live with daily," one person commented.

"Very disappointing language coming from a 'minister'. I would expect to see a public apology. For those who suffer from OCD this is demoralising and an uncalled for comments," another Facebook user said.

The Herald has contacted the Health Minister for comment.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

Auckland

New Zealander killed by shark in Australia was not wearing shark deterrent device he owned

12 Jul 10:05 PM
Auckland

Deadly volcanic eruption clouds could travel 15km across Auckland - research

12 Jul 10:00 PM
New Zealand

Nelson-Tasman state of emergency, HIV diagnoses in babies | NZ Herald News Update, Sunday 13 July

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealander killed by shark in Australia was not wearing shark deterrent device he owned

New Zealander killed by shark in Australia was not wearing shark deterrent device he owned

12 Jul 10:05 PM

Steven Payne, 37, died after the great white shark attack in Western Australia in March.

Deadly volcanic eruption clouds could travel 15km across Auckland - research

Deadly volcanic eruption clouds could travel 15km across Auckland - research

12 Jul 10:00 PM
Nelson-Tasman state of emergency, HIV diagnoses in babies | NZ Herald News Update, Sunday 13 July

Nelson-Tasman state of emergency, HIV diagnoses in babies | NZ Herald News Update, Sunday 13 July

Morning quiz: What does the term 'A5' signify in Wagyu beef grading?

Morning quiz: What does the term 'A5' signify in Wagyu beef grading?

12 Jul 08:40 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP