Show of support for Nikau house
Users of Nikau House took to Nelson’s Church Steps to show their support for retaining the community mental health facility, despite a health board proposal to close it.
Around 80 Nelsonians gathered yesterday afternoon, where Christ Church Cathedral Dean Mike Hawke said the proposed closure was brought to his attention at a Sunday church service last week.
‘‘Someone got up and said, ‘my life is in jeopardy because Nikau House could be closing and I rely on it’.’’
He told those who had gathered he was there for one reason, to be ‘‘a voice for the voiceless’’.
Many held signs in protest. ‘‘Pain is real, but so is hope,’’ one read. ‘‘Mental healthcare is a right, not a privilege,’’ was another.
Nikau House user Donna told the crowd she had been visiting the centre for 22 years and if it closed, more people would end up in the hospital.
‘‘I’ve had ups and downs at Nikau but I’ve always wanted to go and I went back for the first time yesterday and did textiles.’’
Finn Smith said he had been visiting Nikau House for at least 18 years and it was both a safe haven and a ‘‘place of wellness’’ where there were professionals on hand to talk to at any time.
‘‘I think my wellness would be maintained better if Nikau stayed open.
‘‘It’s good to have that fence at the top of the cliff instead of being an expensive crash at the bottom of the cliff.’’
Marina Whyte said for people living with mental illness, it could be isolating.
‘‘When you come out and say you have a mental illness, nobody wants to be your friend anymore, so you need to go to Nikau House to to make new friends.’’
Heather McAlister a retired nurse who had held a number of community roles, said she was working at Ngawhatu Hospital when it was de-institutionalised.
She ran a day centre at the hospital for those who had transitioned into living in the community and said that service had since evolved into Nikau House.
‘‘The thing is, you cannot expect people with severe psychosis of whatever cause, to be supporting themselves adequately in society.’’
People living with mental illness needed somewhere they could go on their own terms, McAlister said.
Nikau was the last facility of its kind in the community and ‘‘absolutely’’ needed to remain open.