To cultivate autonomy, dignity, and human rights in mental health treatment and conversations
Why We Exist
“Our system is not set up for people like me... people who don’t meet the standards of normalcy and whose emotions can’t be contained in a neat package of predictability”.
(Rachael Burns)
We would assume that in today’s world - and most certainly within a healthcare system as advanced and renowned as Australia’s - that mental health services would be a place of respite, safety and compassion.
Most people assume that those receiving treatment always do so for their own betterment and of their own free will, however this is not necessarily the case.
All-too-often, mental health services and perceptions of mental health are indignifying and dehumanising. Stigma still seeps into every day settings and conversations (often unconsciously) and the result is a world in which despite best intentions, iatrogenic harm is often endured.
Dignity
To us, dignity means enforcing and protecting the inalienable rights that make us human. It is a basic entitlement that comes with being human.
“It’s almost ineffable. It’s respect, but with more grace. It’s beyond just meeting a minimum”
Justice
Justice is at the forefront of Integrity Initiative’s purpose. It is our drive to fight for what is right and humane and our resilience to do so in the face of setbacks. It is what gives us strength to navigate and challenge complex power dynamics and challenge deep-seated beliefs that underpin modern healthcare.
“Justice is what precipitates freedom. It is a fundamental component of safety and equity which themselves form the basis of decency. It is assurance, righteousness, moral clarity and protection.”
Empowerment
People can only thrive when they have the knowledge, skills and self-efficacy to act as their own advocate. Unfortunately, in mental health settings, this is a fact that is often overlooked and still so many are left without adequate information about their rights and how to protect these rights.
“Empowerment is a gift - a gift of choice, of expression and of the ability to fail. It is gifting people the tools required to create change; to engage with what matters to them.”
Embracing Imperfection
Humans are inherently flawed, and it is in accepting this that we find connection, fulfilment and community. The authentic, ambiguous and human nature of Integrity Initiative is what sets it aside from other organisations.
“Humans exist messy and unpolished. We make mistakes, we get it wrong, and that is okay. In fact, it is what we call flaws that make humans unique”.
Diversity
Diversity is more than just representation, it is inclusion, collaboration, co-production, and harnessing lived experience.
“Diversity extends beyond tokenism. It is all around us, yet rarely held. It is right beneath us, it is within us, yet we often believe it is hidden.”
Australia always was and always will be Aboriginal land. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
We here at Integrity Initiative are honoured to live and breathe on Whjadjuk Noongar boodja, a part of the sacred, rich and diverse country in Boorloo, Western Australia.