The New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs : Confidential Forum for Former In-Patients of Psychiatric Hospitals : Confidential Forum for Former In-Patients of Psychiatric Hospitals
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Terms of Reference

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Confidential Forum for Former In-Patients of Psychiatric Hospitals

Background

The Confidential Forum for Former In-Patients of Psychiatric Hospitals was announced by the Government in 2004 and established in 2005. Its main purpose was to provide an accessible, confidential environment in which former in-patients, family members of in-patients, or former staff members could describe their experiences of psychiatric institutions in New Zealand in the years before November 1992 (at which date the current mental health legislation came into effect).

People coming forward to the Forum were heard by a panel of (usually) three members who had knowledge of the mental health system and who were receptive, respectful listeners. The terms of reference also said that the panel would assist the former psychiatric in-patients by providing information and access to relevant services and agencies, including provision for access to counselling.

The Forum was a new reconciliation initiative for New Zealand. It offered a constructive approach to dealing with historic matters that had deeply affected people at the time and that still affect present lives.


Processes of registration and meetings
Meetings between the panel and participants commenced in July 2005 and were held throughout New Zealand between July 2005 and April 2007.

There were 154 days of meetings in 22 different locations. By the completion of the hearing process 493 people had attended a meeting with the Forum.

Participant groups
There were three major groups of participants (with some participants in more than one group): former in-patients (82 percent), family members of former in-patients (17 percent), and former staff members (6 percent). The earliest experiences described at the Forum dated from the 1940s. The majority of participants, however, referred to experiences of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.

Final report
In accordance with its terms of reference, the Forum’s final report was presented to the Attorney-General and Ministers of Health, Justice, Treasury and Internal Affairs on 28 June 2007. Link here to the final report:
*This document is in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe site.

Te Āiotanga: Report of the Confidential Forum for Former In-Patients of Psychiatric Hospitals (cover image)

The report can also be requested in hard copy from the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon Rick Barker, Parliament House, Wellington.

Media queries can be made to the office of the Attorney-General on: 04 471 9412

The Department of Internal Affairs was responsible for supporting and facilitating the Confidential Forum.

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Last updated: 08/11/2007