World Mental Health Day – 10 October

Not only is the 10th of October World Homeless Day, it is also World Mental Health Day.

The objective of World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is to raise awareness of mental health issues and mobilize efforts in support of mental health around the world.

Here in Aotearoa New Zealand it is a precursor to Mental Health Awareness Week which kicks off on the 12th of October.

The theme for this year’s WMHD is ‘Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change’.

So, today is an opportunity to meaningfully engage with people with lived experience (PWLE) of mental health conditions and to recognize their knowledge as a vital form of expertise.

You see, this year’s campaign calls for their voices to shape the policies, services and decisions that affect their lives. Unfortunately all too often, PWLE are asked to share their stories but excluded from decisions.

The thing is, meaningful engagement extends beyond simply being heard. It means creating opportunities for people to influence decisions, co-design services, strengthen peer-led approaches, challenge stigma and strengthen accountability.

When PWLE are meaningfully engaged, mental health systems are likely to become more person-centred, rights-based and responsive to people’s needs and concerns.

One important priority for PWLE is the shift away from long-stay psychiatric institutions towards community-based, person-centered mental health care.

The thing is, institutions tend to be isolating and are too often associated with poor-quality care, coercion and human rights abuses. Deinstitutionalization requires a carefully planned shift in funding, services and support so that people can live in their communities.

Reflecting this priority, the World Health Organisation (WHO) will launch practical guidance on deinstitutionalization.

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WHO have also produced a framework for meaningful engagement of people living with noncommunicable diseases, and mental health and neurological conditions.

The overall objective of this framework is to support WHO and Members States in meaningful engagement of PWLE.

On this World Mental Health Day, let us move from listening to action – and build mental health systems with PWLE, not merely for them.

Afterall, PWLE bring knowledge that cannot be gained from professional training or research alone. They can identify barriers that others may overlook and help ensure that policies, services and programmes respond to people’s actual needs and circumstances.

Blessings ’til next time 🙂

World Homeless Day 10th of October

On the 10th of October people around the world will celebrate World Homeless Day, while working to prevent and end homelessness and alleviate the suffering of those experiencing it.

The concept of ‘World Homeless Day’ emerged from online discussions between people working to respond to homelessness from various parts of the world.

The Inaugural day was marked on the 10th of October 2010, which makes 2026 celebrations, the 17th annual World Homeless Day and since its founding, it has been observed on every continent (except Antarctica) in over 100 countries.

The day serves as a platform to celebrate good works, benchmark progress, advocate for improved policies and funding that can help prevent and end homelessness.

World Homeless Day also aims to raise awareness about the needs of people who currently experience homelessness and promote work in local communities to alleviate suffering and prevent death.

The Salvation Army in its launch of this year’s Winter Appeal notes that over 112,000 people across Aotearoa New Zealand experience severe housing deprivation, including more than 33,000 children living in cars, garages, overcrowded homes, or unsafe conditions.

Locally, The The Salvation Army North Canterbury Corps (formerly Rangiora Corps) operates a dedicated homelessness response team to address housing insecurity in the Waimakariri region.

They work alongside local authorities, including a referral pathway hosted by the Waimakariri District Council.

This pathway has been set up to enable people to connect those experiencing hardship or homelessness with vital support services. It is inline with the Housing First model which centres on:

• Creating a central referral point
• Enabling and equipping the development of a team of navigators who respond to referrals, working with the referred client and appropriate agencies and community supports toward getting them housed
• Who in turn provide a pastoral response and wrap around support coordination function to ensure that clients are supported to address the contributors to their homelessness – This empower those affected by homelessness toward better outcomes and helps move them through the Housing Continuum

The Housing First approach is underpinned by five principles:

Immediate access to housing with no readiness conditions
Housing is offered with no readiness conditions such as sobriety or proof of engagement in medical treatments. It just requires a willingness to engage with support services and to be in housing. Housing First providers find people housing that fits the needs of each person, which could be a private rental, public housing or supported living.

Consumer choice and self-determination
People have choices about the housing and support that’s right for them. For example, some may prefer their own self-contained flat or house and want regular visits with a support worker.

Others may decide that a supported living arrangement works best for them. Choice may be constrained by availability and affordability.

Individualised and person-centred support
Support is given according to each person’s needs, for as long as needed. Housing First providers work with a range of health and social services to make sure the person gets the specialist support they need. The supports provided are individualised and person-driven.

Harm reduction and recovery-orientation approach
Recovery focus with holistic support to reduce potentially harmful behaviours and make positive steps towards wellbeing.

Social and community integration
People are encouraged and supported to be part of their communities and connect with whānau, support networks, social activities, education and work.

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If you have seen someone in the Waimakariri region who might be homeless, please let us know by filling out this form with as much information as possible, so that we can pass the details on to our outreach team.

The thing is, homelessness within New Zealand is a complex, multi-layered systems problem driven by a shortage of affordable housing, poverty, trauma, mental illness, addiction, and fragmented public services.

You see, homelessness is more than just living on the streets or in a car. It includes unsafe, temporary, or shared housing.

And I’ve always believed that homelessness can be solved through cross-party political representatives working together, along with community collaboration and Housing First approaches, one person at a time.

So, it great to see local communities coming together to try and help alleviate the issue for people that often don’t know where to go to for assistance.

Blessings ’til next time 🙂

Why do I post about my health journey?

Yesterday I had an awesome opportunity and privilege to share a presentation to a group of people about ‘My Journey into the Autoimmune’.

It has a certain kind of ring to it 🙂

A journey into the unknown is probably more to the point, as the past few years have certainly been filled with multiple ups and downs.

We have not only navigated issues with my health, but also a health system that is not as connected as one would like to think; add to that new doctors, nurses and specialists and different processes etc.

Anyhow, that’s another story for another time – In the presentation I was able to provide a bit of background on Scleroderma and associated Interstitial Lung Disease (SSC-ILD); what it is and what it is not, and how it has affected my health and work (ministry) / life balance over the past 8 years.

I will undoubtedly share this on my ‘Scleroderma, ILD & Raynauds‘ page in due course. But this obviously got me thinking about why I do what I do as far as posting about my health journey on this blog.

Within a matter of moments the below image came across my Facebook feed, almost as if someone somewhere was reading my mind and it ultimately reminded me that sharing aspects of my story may well help others who also get to traverse this journey too, or at least a similar one.

You see, when you get a diagnosis for a rare incurable, invisible, chronic, autoimmune illness it can certainly affect one on a number of levels, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically even and sometimes all at once.

It can also be extremely hard to know where, or who, to turn to for help. Or even possibly where / who to turn to for an understanding listening ear; one that can offer support and encouragement, let alone guidance and direction for whatever may come next.

So, that is why I post aspects of my health journey on this blog – On the off chance that someone, somewhere may come across it and recognise that they are not alone.

That gives me some purpose and helps with one of the aspects of wholeness in my life; purposeful contribution which relates to Natural Character Development. If you would like to know more about how fulfilling your life may, or may not be, irregardless of what you are facing, why not drop me a line.

Blessings ’til next time 🙂

Scleroderma can affect the muscles

The following information on how scleroderma can affect the muscles was originally prepared by Scleroderma International.

They were created with a simple purpose in mind: to help spread awareness of scleroderma, to share stories, and bring people together through understanding and support.

A couple of years ago I had the privilege of working with them sharing aspects of my own scleroderma journey.

You see, scleroderma is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect the skin, blood vessels, connective tissues, and internal organs. Although muscle involvement is not considered one of the main features of scleroderma, muscles can be affected in some people with systemic scleroderma.

These effects may include muscle weakness, inflammation, reduced muscle mass, difficulty maintaining muscle health, and normal muscle function.

Muscle weakness:

Some people with systemic scleroderma may experience weakness in different muscle groups, which can make everyday movements more difficult. For example, a person may have difficulty standing up, walking, climbing stairs, lifting objects, or performing other activities that require muscle strength. The severity of muscle weakness can vary considerably from one person to another.

Muscle inflammation:

In certain cases, scleroderma may occur alongside an inflammatory muscle condition, sometimes referred to as an inflammatory myopathy. When the muscles become inflamed, or damaged a person may experience weakness and, in some cases, muscle pain or tenderness. Therefore, persistent or unexplained muscle weakness should not simply be assumed to be caused by lack of exercise.

Reduced Muscle Mass:

Reduced physical activity can contribute to muscle loss, or reduced muscle mass. Scleroderma may cause pain, stiffness, fatigue, restricted movement, or other physical limitations. As a result, some people may become less physically active. When muscles are used less frequently over a long period of time, they can gradually lose strength and size. This process is known as muscle atrophy or muscle wasting.

Difficulty Maintaining Muscle Health:

Nutritional problems may also affect muscle health. Some people with systemic scleroderma experience gastrointestinal problems that can make it difficult to eat enough food or absorb nutrients properly. If the body does not receive sufficient calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals, maintaining muscle tissue can become more difficult. Consequently, inadequate nutrition may contribute to muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass.

Difficulty Maintaining Normal Muscle Function:

Changes in the skin and connective tissues can indirectly affect muscle function. Scleroderma can cause the skin and tissues around affected areas to become tight or hardened. Because of this tightness, normal movement may become more difficult or restricted. Over time, reduced movement can lead to decreased use of certain muscles and contribute to loss of strength.

Another important factor to bear in mind is the relationship between muscle strength and physical function. When muscles become weaker, activities may require more effort. As a result, a person may move less because movement becomes increasingly difficult. Reduced activity can then lead to further muscle deconditioning and weakness, creating a cycle that can affect mobility and independence.

However, not every muscle problem experienced by a person with scleroderma is necessarily caused directly by scleroderma. Muscle weakness, pain, or loss of muscle mass can have many possible causes, including prolonged inactivity, nutritional deficiencies, medications, nerve problems, other autoimmune diseases, infections, and other medical conditions.

Therefore, identifying the underlying cause of muscle involvement is important before determining the appropriate treatment; because muscle strength plays a major role in movement, physical function, and independence.

For this reason, people with scleroderma who develop new or worsening muscle weakness, difficulty moving, persistent muscle pain, or noticeable loss of muscle mass should discuss these symptoms with a healthcare professional.

Depending on the symptoms, evaluation may include a physical examination, blood tests, and other investigations to determine whether the muscles themselves are affected and what may be contributing to the problem.

With all that said, recognizing muscle problems early can help healthcare professionals identify possible causes and develop an appropriate approach to maintaining muscle function and overall quality of life.

As always, I hope that you have found the above information not only informative, but also helpful in understanding aspects of this disease.

Blessings ’til next time 🙂

#Scleroderma
#SclerodermaAwareness
#SclerodermaInternational

This week’s Spiramentum Ministries Post

Today rather than create another post for The Life and Times of Perry… I thought I’d repost / link the one that I’ve put together for Spiramentum Ministries.

It is entitled ‘Clothe Yourself in What Matters’ and it reminds us each to clothe ourselves in love, which then ties everything together and makes our life complete.

Afterall, a life marked by God’s love is going to display the very characteristics that Paul espouses in Colossians 3:12-14.

Clothe Yourself in What Matters

You can follow Spiramentum Ministries on Facebook, or click subscribe on Spiramentum Ministries so that you can keep up to date with our latest posts.

Blessings ’til next time 🙂

James Bond Day

A British secret agent working for MI6 under the codename 007 is a figure that encompasses all of our dreams of a what a man of danger is.

He is a man of intrigue who always seems to get answers to his questions, and inevitably winds up with the girl.

Every year, on the 5th of October, we get to celebrate this hero of the super-spy genre cinema on…

However, few people know that James Bond didn’t get his start on the big screen, but instead in a series of twelve novels, and two short story collections written by author Ian Fleming starting in the 1950’s.

Men dreamed of living a life of danger, with women swooning at the thought of this mysterious stranger, and everyone spent their days fantasizing about what it would mean to be a secret agent man. Afterall who doesn’t want to Fly through the air shooting all the bad guys?

And what about having all of those fancy gadgets and lovely women? Who doesn’t want to drive nice cars while being impeccably dressed, a smooth talker and a comforting presence after all the violence is over?

But it wasn’t until 1962 that this wildly popular series of books was brought to the silver screen in “Dr. NO” and in that one instance, James Bond was brought to life for people everywhere.

Throughout the ages, some of the biggest names of stage and screen have portrayed this iconic character; Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig are the main six actors who have officially played James Bond in the Eon Productions film series.

It was decided in 2012 that the best way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of James Bond’s arrival on the silver screen was to commemorate a day dedicated to secret agents everywhere. Thus was born James Bond Day.

Throughout the decades the movie franchise has brought us fast cars, beautiful women, and cackling villains that have tried to take down England, and the world.

In every case there was one man, 007 – Bond… James Bond, that would take them down and save the day.

So how can you celebrate this fictional icon in the eyes of the world on James Bond Day?

You can pick up one of the original James Bond books, be it one of the novels or short story collections and start reading. Or possibly you could read one of the many continuation works written by other authors that pick up on the Bond theme / universe.

You can listen to one of the many music soundtracks throughout the day, check out James Bond Radio, do the James Bond Quiz, or if you are lucky enough to have an exhibition or convention in a town, or city near you – you could possibly pay a visit.

Maybe you could have a movie marathon, although this may take a while. According to Google AI Overview the 25 official Eon Productions James Bond movies have a total running time of approximately 53.5 hours (3,207 minutes).

For your information the longest movie is ‘No Time to Die‘ (2021) at 163 minutes (2 hours and 43 minutes) and the shortest movie is ‘Quantum of Solace‘ (2008) at 106 minutes (1 hour and 46 minutes).

So maybe you could just pick your favorite and watch it at home with the family and / or friends. I’m going to be busy on the evening of the 5th – so maybe I can watch my favourite movie the following day.

What is your favourite movie? And who is your favourite actor?

Blessings ’til next time 🙂