Sunflower Awards 2010

17/03/2010 | Sunflower Awards

Three MidCentral Health staff were among others who received Sunflower Awards at a city symposium in recognition of those who work in partnership with families and people with mental illness.

The awards were given to Julie Woon, Dr. Andy Ashton and Pip Gordon-Lane from MidCentral Health at the Symposium on Mental Health presentation on Friday afternoon.

The ceremony was organised by Manawatu Supporting Families in Mental Illness, and supported by Public Health Services in celebration of Schizophrenia Awareness week.

Nominations are made by family members and the decision for who receives the awards is based on what the families write about how they were supported.

There were nine nominations for the four awards. Julie Woon and Dr. Andy Ashton from MidCentral’s Early Intervention Service received a joint award. Their nomination read “They have been unfailing in their regular support of my son since his admission to ward 21 last year and to me his Mum. They are still very much my main support through his recovery – in helping us both.”

Pip Gordon-Lane from MidCentral’s Intensive Rehabilitation and Treatment Service was also nominated by grateful parents. Her nomination read “Since our son’s referral to the IRTS Team, his mental health is so much better that we are no longer continually at odds with him. Pip has gone the extra mile to connect with him and also with us – his parents. Her support has been wonderful. Thank you Pip. You are an absolute blessing.”

All three insisted that the award was deserved by their whole team as the excellent care given was a result of great team work.

Claudine Nepia-Tule, Mental Health and Addictions Manager, from MidCentral Health said “The manager of Supporting Families Manawatu Christine Zander and her team provided a fantastic forum to recognise and celebrate practitioners in the mental health field - and of greater eminence is that the practitioners are nominated by family’s/service users themselves.”

Throughout the day presentations were made by a variety of speakers, such as Dr Alicia Moxom from Massey University, as well as a panel discussion about the challenges of getting the right diagnosis which included participants representing psychiatrists, psychologists, family members and consumers.