Well versed for youth mental health

A pair of young Nelson women are organising a poetry slam event to jump-start a conversation about mental health.

Zoe Palmer and Yazzie Millener are behind theWord on the Street event on January 13, when people are invited to talk about mental health in the form of poetry.

Palmer said the event was a chance to give young people a safe space to share their experiences and an effort to reduce the stigma around mental health.

‘‘We think it’s appalling that New Zealand is so amazing yet we have the highest youth suicide rate in the developed world,’’ Palmer said.

‘‘We want to let young people know that it is ok to talk about these things, people want to listen and people care.’’

She said the event was also a chance to raise awareness about the proposed changes to the Nelson Marlborough Health CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) crisis team.

Earlier in the year, Nelson Marlborough Health proposed to have one crisis response team for all ages and issues.

The current structure has a specialist child and adolescent mental health team that works on a roster on-call after hours.

Palmer said she had read about the changes to the service, but not from a youth perspective.

She created a survey about the service which she shared on Facebook.

‘‘I messaged every single person on my friends list and I was like, I need your opinion on this.’’

Palmer and Millener’s friends also shared the survey and they received close to 300 responses.

She said the majority were in favour of the service remaining as it was.

‘‘It is a matter of life or death, it sounds dramatic but it really is,’’ Palmer said.

‘‘I am proud of the youth of Nelson for identifying this as an issue and putting forward these really mature opinions.’’

Millener had first hand experience with the CAMHS crisis team who she said were ‘‘amazing’’ and ‘‘incredible’’.

She has bipolar disorder, and had previously called the crisis line for help.

‘‘I was feeling so lost, I was freaking out, I didn’t know what to do, all I had in my mind was horrible, horrible things.’’

Millener said the crisis team made sure she was safe, provided support for her mother and put a plan in place for her to have an assessment the next day, followed by an appointment with her counsellor.

‘‘I am so grateful that they were there.’’

Millener said she knew of many others who had used the crisis line for whom it had been beneficial.

The pair were surprised by the number of people who had already contacted them, wanting to speak at the event.

‘‘When people say they want to do it I’m like, thank you for wanting to participate and they are like, no thank you for giving us the opportunity,’’ Millener said.

Anyone interested in sharing their poetry can email nelsonpoetry@gmail.com or message the Facebook page.

Word on the Street at Ghost Light Theatre. Saturday January 13 at 6pm. Tickets are $5 for under 20, others starting from $13,available from www.ghostlight.nz