VIBE joins Facebook and tackles some tough issues

The members of VIBE are young, creative and passionate about social change. We provide a youth-focused voice for the future of New Zealand mental health; and now we’re expanding our reach through Facebook.

VIBE members develop and implement creative projects in the youth community to reduce discrimination around experiences of madness. Some examples of our projects include t-shirt and poster design and development, writing for online and print newsletters and participating in music gigs. We also provide feedback on mental health and youth-related resources, services and training to agencies and organisations that work with young people.

An issue concerning us at the moment is the recent funding cuts by government and district health boards.  Closure of the 198 Youth Health Centre in Christchurch, and also the Auckland-based Mind Matters Trust, due to funding reductions are two such services. Mind Matters was forced to close after seven years of providing an alternative to acute admission services for young people and their families.

Having used Mind Matters Trust myself in 2005, I can remember what a great experience it was to be with other young people who knew what I was going through. It played a huge role in my recovery, largely due to the team that included staff, board and managers.

Mental health funding cuts might seem to save money in the short-term, but they have a detrimental long-term impact that leads to higher costs through increased chronic conditions and emergency admissions.

Short-term funding cuts will harm sustainable long-term collaboration of young adults, but VIBE will work to ensure that the sector and wider society remembers that young adults are our future.

If you live in the Auckland region and have experience of mental distress, and a passion for positive social change, we invite you to become part of VIBE. If you live outside of Auckland, you can keep up with us via our website, or talk to us about starting up your own local network.

Richie Paine, Mental Health Promoter - VIBE