Foreword
Judi Clements, Chief Executive, Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
I am pleased to be writing my first Foreword for MindNet, which now has 816 subscribers from all over New Zealand representing a wide range of roles, interests and communities.
I am new to the Chief Executive role here at the Mental Health Foundation and have been in New Zealand six months, having come from the UK to take up the role.
I am much encouraged by the obvious emphasis on health promotion, including mental health promotion, which pervades strategy statements and policy at a national level, and practices throughout New Zealand.
Further opportunities lie ahead of us with the Second Mental Health and Addiction Plan, 'Te Tähuhu', giving prominence to mental health promotion and prevention as one of the ten challenges. An action plan to implement 'Te Tähuhu' is currently in draft and we look forward to opportunities to revisit 'Building on Strengths' and the formulation of concrete action plans.
Since the last edition of MindNet we have seen the advent of the Bangkok Charter and are encouraged by the inclusion of mental health and clear references to indigenous people and to disability.
The links between health and human rights are being more firmly made and nowhere needs that more than the field of mental health promotion.
So in the words of the old Ian Drury song, there are 'reasons to be cheerful' and I look forward to working and building on the good foundations.
