Some activities are more effective when they are developed and provided regionally or locally. Many Like Minds activities are facilitated not only by Like Minds providers, but also by, or in conjunction, with other key project allies and stakeholders.

A diverse range of organisations have contracts for the Like Minds project. Twenty six providers are contracted to work on the regional strategies in the National Plan. There are eight Māori providers and three Pacific providers, as well as consumer run groups, public health agencies within DHBs, health promoters, mental health service providers, and trusts set up specifically to work on Like Minds.

For details of organisations contracted to work on the project, go to Find a Service.

Education and Training
Many regional providers offer training and education programmes on anti-stigma and discrimination issues.
Contact your local Like Minds provider for details.

Speakers’ Bureaux
Some regional areas have established groups of professional speakers with experience of mental illness who are involved in education work with targeted audiences. Using personal stories, speakers will talk about aspects of their experience of mental illness.

Bureaux provide speakers for speaking engagements and the delivery of structured education seminars to community groups, organisations, institutes, health services, Government agencies and business groups.

Contact your local Like Minds provider to find out if a Speakers Bureaux is operating in your area.

Community Events
Providers in the regions run a range of community events to raise awareness of the impact of stigma and discrimination on people with experience of mental illness.

Contact your local Like Minds provider for details.

Working with the Media
The media has the power to shape society’s perceptions of people experiencing mental illness. An important part of the Like Minds work in the regions is to ensure that more positive messages are fostered in the media – and that there is informed and balanced debate around discrimination issues – by developing good relationships with local media.

For more information on Like Minds and the media, go to working with the media.