How it all started
The project started to form back in 2020. Matt Jenkins (University of Otago) and Victoria Chinn (Te Herenga Waka) had relatively recently finished their PhDs in the areas of health promotion and behaviour change, before moving into the realm of mental heath. They were put in touch and over that first coffee realised that they had a common interest – supporting people living with mental illness to live healthy lives.
In particular, rangatahi (young people) living with psychosis often find it challenging to lead healthy lives following their diagnosis. Health behaviours can be challenging for everyone, but with the added side effects of antipsychotic medication, symptoms of psychosis itself, and the stigma associated with psychosis, these challenges are amplified.
It was clear from the start that this project would put the lived experiences of those experiencing psychosis first. Listening to and honouring those experiences offers us insights that move away from traditional ‘researcher-expert’ perspectives and raises the voice of young people in their own their own healthcare.
Since then, the project has developed organically, bringing in arts-based methods to really understand peoples’ lived experience of psychosis and to develop ways to support health and wellbeing within this community alongside an awesome team of researchers and partners that include people with lived experience of mental distress or illness (including psychosis), clinical expertise, co-design experience.
Why ‘Moving with Psychosis’?
We had much discussion when coming up with the name for this website, and while sitting with ‘Moving through Psychosis’ for while, decided that the imagery behind this phrase might indicate getting stuck or slowing down – portraying psychosis as something someone gets over. However, understanding now is that ‘recovery’ from psychosis differs from one person to the next, and many people learn to move with it, rather than through it. Hence ‘Moving with Psychosis’ . The name of the main co-design project – Te Hekenga Whaiora (meaning the journey to wellness) – was gifted by Briony Drysdale.
Our partners
We have worked with various agencies across the country, including Toi Tangata, the League of Live Illustrators, and Wellington Early Intervention Services. We continue to look for exciting people and organisations to partner with so that we can keep moving the project forward, people first. If you are keen to partner up with us, just get in touch using our contact form below.
Moving With Psychosis 