Novel mental health idea

Press, 9 February 1983, Page 12

Novel mental health idea

PA Auckland A novel approach to mental health and alcohol problems will be seen when the Elmira Mental Health Players visit New Zealand this month. The players. Mr John Edwards and Mrs Marj Park will arrive in Auckland from the United States on February 21. Their five-week tour is being organised by the Mental Health Foundation and the Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council. I

The Mental Health Foundation’s director. Dr Max Abbott, said that the main purpose of the visit was to increase community understanding of mental health and alcohol problems of every day life through role playing rather than “another dry lecture.” “We hope that their public meetings throughout the country will provide a further push to efforts to- bring the topics of mental health and alcohol abuse out into the open — to break down the stigma,” he' said.

The players’ methods had been very effective in their home State of New York. Health and welfare workers will have the chance to learn new skills and assist the players. In public sessions a’ group of players spontaneously act out a scene before an audience. At the end of the scene, the audience participates by questioning the players. The players respond in character, sustaining the feeling of authenticity. A moderator will close" the presentation with a summary.