Fighting Disease: New Zealand

Building Awareness

As part of the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, the Carter Center's Mental Health Program awarded fellowships to journalists in New Zealand from 2001 to 2006. The international fellowship program was developed in New Zealand as a result of the Ministry of Health's interest in anti-stigma efforts and was established under the leadership of Raymond Nairn of the University of Auckland.

Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism currently provide stipends and expert training to journalists from the United States, Romania, and South Africa  to report on topics related to mental health or mental illnesses. The primary goal of the fellowship program is to increase accurate reporting on mental health issues and decrease incorrect, stereotypical information.

During the Carter Center's involvement in New Zealand, 10 journalists received fellowships to study topics such as Maori mental health and the challenges needed to deliver mental health services to a multiethnic population.

In 2006, the self-sustaining New Zealand Mental Health Media Grants program was established and absorbed the Carter Center's responsibilities in the country. The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand and the national anti-stigma campaign "Like Minds, Like Mine" are co-creators and supporters of the program.

Read about Paul Diamond, 2004-2005 Mental Health Journalism Fellow from New Zealand >

Read about Jim Chipp, 2002-2003 Mental Health Journalism Fellow  from New Zealand >