Mental Health Commission welcomes Forum report

Friday, 29 June 2007

Mental Health Commission welcomes Forum report

The Mental Health Commission welcomes the report of the Confidential Forum for Former In-Patients of Psychiatric Hospitals as an important landmark in an ongoing process of healing and reconciliation.

“We salute the courage of those who participated in the work of the Forum, and who were prepared to talk about debasing and humiliating experiences in state institutions,” Commission General Manager Selwyn Katene said.

“But we recognise that this is by no means the end of the road.

“The work of the Forum, chaired by former principal Family Court judge Patrick Mahony, has been but another step in a process of helping former mental health patients come to terms with their experiences.

“The Commission acknowledges that many of those who participated in the Forum are continuing to fight for apologies or compensation.

“We have no comment on legal actions, except to say that all those who endured traumatic experiences in state psychiatric institutions in the period before 1992 must be allowed to pursue whatever remedy they feel is necessary to bring about closure.

“It is important now that the hand of support and reconciliation that the Forum’s work represented continues to be extended to all who spent time in state psychiatric institutions, so that they get the assistance to which they are entitled.

“The Commission looks forward to studying the report closely, and working to ensure it is a catalyst for positive change for former patients and their families,” Mr Katene said.

ENDS