The popular image of problem drinkers is, more often than not, a young person in town at 2am, or perhaps a middle aged person whose drinking may be in response to, and impacting on, family and work pressures. Younger and middle aged problem drinkers do get older of course and so can become older problem drinkers. It is also possible for problem drinking to emerge later in life for the first time. Drinking can become an issue for a variety of reasons later in life including becoming more social isolated through bereavement and retirement, chronic pain and insomnia, and increased family conflict.

Increased age brings with it a range of specific risk factors. Although most people continue to exhibit healthy cognitive functioning as they age our intellectual reserves, the spare capacity that comes in to play when under stress, become more limited and so heavy drinking can more easily push adequate functioning into the territory of poor functioning, with impaired memory, confusion, and poor decision making. As we become more physically frail intoxication presents greater risk of injury through falls, burns and cuts. Alcohol can act as a depressant and older adults are increasingly being identified as a high risk group for the development of clinical depression. Another critical factor to consider is the potential for alcohol to interact with medication, with older adults commonly prescribed a range of medications where this could be an issue.

As well as the risks associated with alcohol consumption there are potential benefits. In addition to the pleasure people gain from drinking alcohol, there is information to suggest that there are benefits to cardiovascular health with moderate alcohol consumption. These benefits are modest at best and don’t apply to everybody. Potential health benefits can easily be overemphasised and used to justify unhealthy drinking. The risk of over-doing it greatly exceeds the risk of under-doing it when it comes to alcohol consumption.

What is a safe level of alcohol consumption for older drinkers? National drinking guidelines are largely targeted at a younger population and may not be appropriate for older drinkers. The profile of drinking habits for older drinkers in New Zealand is typically frequent, often daily, drinking, but seldom in large quantities, more usually in the one to four drinks range. This contrasts with a youth pattern of less frequent but heavy drinking – i.e. a binge drinking pattern. This “steady state drinking” exhibited by older drinkers can appear harmless in contrast and flies beneath the radar. Given the health complications indicated above for older adults though it is cause for concern. For those in the 65+ age bracket it is advisable to drink no more than two “standard drinks” (1 standard drink = a can of beer or a 100ml glass of wine) and to have regular alcohol free days. If you are on medication discuss this with your doctor as even these amounts may be unhelpful.

Drinking problems can be difficult to identify in older adults as symptoms may be difficult to separate from possible dementia or depression. Deterioration in functioning can be difficult to pin down to the correct cause. This may lead family members, and even health professionals, to overlook the role of drinking. In addition, people who develop a drinking problem may become somewhat secretive about it and older adults are particularly prone to feeling shame under these circumstances and to also not want to bother relatives or burden the health system with their issues.

Talking with an older relative about their drinking may be an uncomfortable thing to do, but if you have any concerns, even if you are not sure, it is important to take the initiative and be honest about your concerns. If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s drinking call the Alcohol Drug Helpline on 0800 787797.

Dr Simon Adamson is a clinical psychologist specializing in alcohol, other drugs and behavioral addictions. You can learn more about him and his work at www.christchurchpsychology.co.nz.

A community’s resilience may be defined as its capacity to withstand major trauma and loss, overcome adversity, and to prevail, usually with increased resources, competence and connectedness. After trauma the community and its members face challenges arising from major disruptions to life, stress, loss and grief, and ruptures in connectedness. This comes as no surprise to us Cantabrians.

Resilience is a process taking place at all levels from micro (individual) to macro (communal). It has been defined as the capacity of individuals to navigate their way to resources that sustain well-being: the capacity of an individual’s physical and social worlds to provide these resources and the capacity of individuals, families and communities to negotiate culturally meaningful ways for resources to be shared.

Resilience, coping and healing may be enhanced in the presence of ritual and celebration which also occurs at all these levels from micro to macro. An example of a simple individual ritual may be that, prior to, or on arrival home from work, one takes a short break to arrive and ‘ground’ oneself before carrying out tasks or engaging with children and others. Couples, friends or partnerships may have rituals that provide pattern, comfort and connectedness. An example could be a date (day or night) or a shared meal on a regular basis with friends. Family rituals are many and varied and often deeply ingrained in family history and culture. These often occur around transitions, birthdays, weddings, funerals, religious dates and occasions, or may be simple weekly practices like a family movie and treats night. Simple bedtime rituals for children provide connection and routine which hold comfort. Simple sleep routines are possible even in times of major upheaval.

There is evidence to suggest that all these rituals enhance family health and functioning. They also assist family members to cope with ongoing stress and to heal from trauma and grief.

An upcoming example of family, group, community or mass celebration is Guy Fawkes. The fact that it commemorates the failed plot in the 1600’s of the attempt to blow up the House of Lords has become somewhat lost in the joy that children (especially) experience in the excitement of the late night, the fun, bonfires and fireworks.

This year, over a year on from the first of the Christchurch earthquakes, the function of this ritual may hold benefits for many. However, some traumatised children may require special attention. Traumatic memories may be triggered by sights, sounds, smells. Memories of what has been lost may also be triggered by the ritual itself and how it used to occur or who or what has been lost. While there may be comfort in retaining the familiar, for some it may be helpful to change the way the celebration occurs to minimise triggering of loss experiences and sadness.

While we all need to attend to our individual and family needs, the community and its activities are a vital part of our recovery and growth also. The celebration of Guy Fawkes is just one opportunity for joining the larger mass for the purpose of celebration. If choosing a smaller celebration, take time to plan what your family may enjoy, involve the children in planning and preparation, allowing them to experience achievement or success, make an example of yourself by practising optimism and attending to your own needs, keeping your own worries and stress away from children’s awareness. Finding optimism and holding the expectation of positive outcomes will help children and actually increase the likelihood that these positive outcomes will occur.

Children need adults to look after themselves. Pay attention to your own and others’ emotional and physical safety, plan and prepare and allow the healing powers of celebrations to take effect.

An acquired brain injury (ABI) refers to any brain injury that occurs after birth and can result from an accident or something non-traumatic such as stroke or brain tumor. The Brain Injury Association of New Zealand reports that approximately 90 New Zealanders sustain a brain injury every day and it has been suggested that 6000 New Zealanders have a stroke each year.

People sustain a range of impairments after an ABI, including changes in physical and cognitive abilities, and in personality and emotions. However one of the biggest changes impacting on life after an ABI is loss of identity. Loss of sense of self or identity is common and distressing after an ABI. This can range from a vague feeling of “differentness” right through to feeling completely disconnected from one’s previous life. This change is usually sudden and one that is invisible and potentially very destructive.

Everybody has a sense of self or identity. Who we are includes the roles we fill such as in our job (e.g. a teacher, a plumber), our social relationships (e.g. a husband, a daughter), through to things we do in our spare time (e.g. a runner, a musician), as well as things about our personality (e.g. a hard worker, reliable, funny, shy) and physical attributes. Our sense of who we are is formed very early in life. Children as young as four form views about themselves (e.g. I am the tallest at preschool, I am good at helping Mum). After an ABI some of these views of self are challenged and many survivors are faced with the question “so who am I now?”

Sometimes this loss of identity is a consequence of the brain injury. Damage to the frontal lobes or deep in the white matter of the right hemisphere can cause problems with self awareness such as knowing how one is coming across socially or noticing when others are upset or bored by your conversation or behaviour. This is not the same thing as denial although this can also occur after an ABI such as when the person resists accepting they might be different.

Loss of identity has a huge impact on social relationships. The person with ABI may no longer react the same way in social situations or at home. This can place great strains on relationships. Things that they used to enjoy may no longer be easy to engage in or even fun. When they are asked what they do in social situations they can say “well I used to be a …” and this can sometimes be embarrassing and difficult to explain. Working out what has changed and what is still the same after an ABI takes time, often through many trials and errors, frequently coming at a huge cost.

If you would like advice about how to seek help after ABI, you can discuss the problems you or your loved one are having with your GP, a psychologist (www.christchurchpsychology.co.nz) or contact the Brain Injury Association (www.brain-injury.org.nz or ph 365 3262). With support and time it is possible to increase your understanding about the impact of your brain injury and to learn how to manage these changes so that you can once again trust in and feel optimistic about, who you are.

Dr Debbie Snell is a clinical psychologist specializing in neuropsychology, concussion and rehabilitation. You can learn more about her and her work at www.christchurchpsychology.co.nz.

Christchurch and Canterbury have taken a beating over this past year, and the sentiment, “I’m just over it”, is frequently expressed by many. Because this natural disaster was not a one-off event, but multiple – and extended over a prolonged period of time – this can be very wearying to our neurochemical and psychological systems. Just a few of the common reactions to such a disaster would include grief over the loss of a loved one, a home, or possessions; flashbacks of the event; difficulties with sleep/nightmares; anxiety regarding future quakes; feeling intolerant and easily irritated; feeling emotionally numbed; and experiencing varying degrees of fraughtness within intimate relationship settings. Traumatic events, whether natural or man-made can call into question some basic assumptions about how the world ticks and our level of safety within it. The way we view our future, how we view ourselves, and what is the meaning of life, are sometimes brought into question following a catastrophe. Expectations of potential harm, betrayal, or danger may follow a traumatic experience. Thus, allowing ourselves to be emotionally close or intimate with another may evoke anxiety within that relationship.

These reactions can all impact to varying degrees upon the way we may relate to our loved ones, friends, and work colleagues. Within an adult relationship where emotional communication and intimacy is of prime importance, if one or both partners are experiencing the various effects of trauma and loss – and the more prolonged the trauma, the more likely we may be affected – then the relationship could over time begin to experience difficulties. Following trauma, the ability to manage our emotional reactions can be compromised, as can the way we process information. Hence, we may sometimes respond with rage, or simply shut down – like an “all or nothing” reaction. Often there is the complaint, “I just can’t think”, or “My brain’s gone to mush”; not only might this be frustrating for our partner, but can also further undermine the partner who is struggling to problem-solve or make a decision about a matter which in normal circumstances would be straightforward.

As a result of trauma, we may “regress” emotionally; this means emotions may be expressed in some physical way (eg stomach pain or headache), or we may become more avoidant and “locked-down”. Whereas emotions would ordinarily act as a signal that steers a couple towards communicating with each other, now one partner may complain that the other is emotionally distant, and express increasing frustration about the loss of emotional connection that they can no longer depend upon the other to make important decisions. On the other hand, the traumatised partner’s intention may be to protect their loved one from their painful emotions and experiences.

Despite these tensions, the relationship is also likely to hold the key to recovery. When an understanding is established of how trauma can impact upon us and why we may behave and react differently to our usual selves, this can provide a very important platform upon which a couple can begin to realise that their relationship has a resiliency that can foster change and recovery. Being able to reduce feelings of shame, guilt, and blame leaves room for the couple to realise that their relationship has a capacity to recoup the intimacy they once had. And sometimes, not uncommonly, the traumatic event and its emotional and psychological consequences may act as a catalyst for a relationship to develop a closer emotional connection than was there prior to the event.

Every couple will have their own unique ways of responding to the impact of a trauma upon their relationship. It is important to keep in mind that it is hard to live with someone who is frequently irritable, angry, depressed, anxious, or disconnected. In time a partner may run out of patience and energy, and feel despair. And the afflicted partner may experience guilt and shame, their sense of personal integrity diminished.

A key step to ease tensions and protect loved ones is to let them know what has happened to you. Your partner needs to know what you have been through, and where you are right now. And although you may not have sorted all that out, it is helpful for a partner to receive some kind of progress reports along the way.

The following suggestions may be a helpful guide to keeping your partner “in touch”:

• Describe what you basically experienced, but keep it simple. Bear in mind that too much detail may overwhelm your partner.
• Whilst making this effort to keep your partner informed, try to maintain realistic expectations. It is very easy to assume that, because you have been together in a relationship for a period of time, that somehow, magically, your partner will “know” or understand what is going on for you.
• When describing the experience, try and focus more upon what the event meant to you – that is, describe your reactions and feelings, as opposed to an overload of factual details about the event.
• Keep updating loved ones about your continuing reactions. Again, keep it simple – eg “I saw it again last night”, when describing a nightmare or flashback; and, once more, try and describe the emotional effects of that nightmare, eg “And when it happens like that, I just freeze up”. And, hopefully, your partner is able to listen, and be genuinely sympathetic, not be judgemental or cynical.
• Informing your partner that when you emotionally “disappear”, or become angry or sad, that this is your way of trying to control yourself; that it is not a reflection of how you feel about your partner.

Telling your partner how your feelings or reactions interfere with your relationship with them conveys powerfully the message that, despite the on-going challenges, you are invested in wanting to preserve your relationship. Don’t be hesitant in asking how your behaviour affects them, and what you may be able to do to help alleviate their levels of stress:

• Tell them what you are doing to get better, and if there is anything that your partner could do to help.
• Whilst you may ask your partner to be patient during the recovery, you also need to be able to accommodate and be patient regarding your partner’s own struggles during this time.

There are many other ways you might reassure and “keep on board” your loved ones whilst making your recovery. One important strategy might be to follow an appropriate stress-management programme. (This is a topic in itself and there is insufficient space to address this in the current article).

These suggestions may go some way towards assisting in emotionally reconciling a relationship which has been affected by a very disturbing life event. Once a couple can create a sense of safety within their relationship, partners can begin to relax somewhat, and the potential for emotional reconnection gradually increases. Fundamentally, it is about partners being able to afford each other some “room to move”, thus diminishing the risk of recurring emotional impasses and hurts.

Alan Prosser is a clinical psychologist who works with adults and adolescents on a wide range of issues including trauma-related issues and couples therapy. You can learn more about him and his work at www.christchurchpsychology.co.nz.

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Is optimism helpful?

Optimists are people who expect good things to happen to them even when the going gets tough. Pessimists on the other hand expect bad things to happen to them. Folk psychology suggests that optimists cope better when things go wrong and demonstrate higher resilience to stressful life events. Optimists also tend to feel better; with research suggesting an optimistic outlook produces a more positive mix of feelings. There is research that even suggests optimists cope better and have better outcomes after health problems such as heart disease and cancer. This work shows that people who are more optimistic tend to be less distressed by what is happening to them and have better life satisfaction for example after surgery. In addition people who are more optimistic have been shown to be more resilient and to cope better with natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and even other types of disaster such as terrorist attacks.

So why is an optimistic outlook helpful? One suggestion is that people who are more confident about eventual success are more likely to keep trying even if things are hard. In contrast, people who are uncertain and less confident may avoid facing the problem in front of them, or may simply give up more easily. In addition it is suggested there are links between optimism and helpful ways of coping. For example, people who are optimistic are more likely to take practical steps to solve the problem they face and to seek support from others. Thus the optimist may be better at using available supports and resources and more likely to face a problem head on. The optimist may also be better equipped to hang in there when the going gets tough and the stressful situation has to be endured.

Are there any drawbacks? Some suggest optimists may be vulnerable to “optimism bias” by seeing things through rose-colored glasses. Perhaps optimists only see what they want to see, set oversized goals and have unrealistic expectations. That is, maybe optimists just don’t know when to give up. However these aspects have not generally found support in the research literature.

Can pessimists become optimists? There is some suggestion that optimism is relatively stable over time and part of a person’s personality make up. However this does not mean that it is impossible to change your perspective to think more positively and to become more optimistic. Certain kinds of negative thoughts can lead to negative feelings and emotions, and lead people to stop trying to reach their goals. Cognitive behavior therapy is an approach focusing on assisting people to notice and change such unhelpful patterns of thinking. Working with a psychologist to modify negative thinking patterns can help you develop more realistic perspectives about yourself and the community around you, perhaps even to adopt a more optimistic viewpoint.

At the end of the day, when the times are hard optimists may manage better not because they are in denial; rather they might just be better at hanging in there!

Dr Debbie Snell is a clinical psychologist specializing in neuropsychology, concussion and rehabilitation. You can learn more about her and her work at www.christchurchpsychology.co.nz.

Imagine the following scenario: Your character in the game Grand Theft Auto visits a prostitute and is ironically rewarded with “health points”, however, you lose “money” due to paying for the service. Thus, to recuperate your “money”, you kill the prostitute and take your money back. Does enacting this type of behaviour through a game carry any real life significance?

It has been suggested that video games heighten aggression, decrease levels of empathy, discourage prosocial behaviour, and glorify violence. Rather than just watching characters on a screen, players interact with the game physically, psychologically, and emotionally. Many thousands of opponents (and other characters) are killed in various graphic ways and the player is rewarded (assuming that they “win”). Thus, behaviour is rehearsed, becomes desensitised, and accepted.

However, years of research on the link between violent video games and individual violence has resulted in heated debate and mixed findings. One of the difficulties with long-term research in this area, is that individuals are exposed to a great number of potential factors that alone, or in combination, can contribute to individuals engaging in violence. Naturally, when significant violent acts occur, especially when firearms are involved – like school shootings in the USA – everyone assumes a link to violent video games. However, research has shown that a very small proportion of school shooters were attracted to these games and rather had other pre-existing difficulties. So what is the long-term risk involved to users?

It is worth noting that while most children under the age of 17 play video games, the largest market is that of adults. Supporters of video games have argued that while the number of people playing games has increased significantly, the rate of violent crime in many western countries is actually decreasing. Further, the vast majority of these youth and adult players have not demonstrated violence. In fact, many positive effects have been reported, such as better hand-eye coordination, resistance to distraction, peripheral vision sensitivity, development of social capabilities, and games even being an outlet for stress and anger. To add to this, video games can be a legitimate source of fun. Some argue that on-line gaming is akin to play-fighting and part of normal development in which competition is healthy. Therefore, we have to look at violent video game effects on a case-by-case basis.

Someone that is predisposed to aggression may be more strongly influenced by what they experience. Playing violent games may bring out violence in individuals already prone to violence (due to factors such as genetics, poverty, culture, family violence, etc). Concerns relate to those who are (i) prone to anger, highly emotional, easily upset, and depressed; (ii) cold and indifferent to others; and (iii) those that frequently break rules and don’t appear to think before they act.

Parents can take a number of steps in an attempt to limit the possible negative effects of video games, namely: Check the rating labels about game content. Consider the possibility that children have accessed games for more mature audiences through older peers. Play or watch some of the games with children to be in touch with what actually happens and how the child reacts. Ensure that games are played in view of adults, rather than in bedrooms. Set limits on game time. Encourage physical activities like sport and physically playing with peers.

Video games will remain. They are neither inherently good nor bad. The focus needs to be on lessening the potential harm to a vulnerable group of individuals.

Craig Prince is a clinical psychologist who specialises in the assessment of people facing criminal or civil proceedings. You can learn more about him and his work at www.christchurchpsychology.co.nz.

A French journalist asked me last week why it was that Cantabrians are such an up-beat lot in the middle of the earthquake mess. The question prompted me to think about what makes us happy. Martin Seligman thinks (with good evidence to back up his thought) that there are some behaviors that are sure to make us feel happy (even if just for a little while). One is counting our blessings and the other is doing something nice for someone else. I don’t know of another place where more of these two is going on. Every conversation about earthquake-related issues (and most conversations have some of that) includes a statement about how lucky we are (to be alive, to have a home, to have a workplace or a job), and the quantity of kindness that is being spread around is overcountable!

This led me to think more about happiness and life satisfaction. What hard times we are living through – the significant disruptions to our lives caused by the earthquake saga continue to harass, inconvenience, distress, shock, and disorient us. I imagine that an opinion poll would reveal a decline in our general life satisfaction in the past 10 months. What to do about it? Well, we know that physical pleasure is associated with our life satisfaction, although the effects are short-lived. Cognitive science has shown us that fundamental physical pleasures associated with taste, touch, smell, and hearing, and higher-order pleasures associated with social connection, being kind, or feeling thankful have the same basis in our brains. We also know that, without sufficient pleasure, we run the risk of becoming unhappy – even depressed. So, there is a direct link between experiencing pleasure and being happy and satisfied with life, and an obvious strategy to cope with our current life stressors is to ensure that we experience pleasure daily.

The problem is that we’re so busy just getting through the difficult days that we’re ignoring our need for pleasure. Not only that – lots of our familiar daily pleasures are no longer available. The gym has gone, the local café has gone, friends and family have moved, CBD workers re-settled in the suburbs have lost their access to the social buzz that was part of their daily lives, and favourite shops have gone. This means that we have to reorient ourselves to finding our old pleasures elsewhere, or finding new pleasures. I’m tired just at the thought of the effort involved…

However, it probably isn’t as hard as it sounds. We miss lots of little pleasures just because we’re so busy missing the big ones and feeling bad about that. I’ve been trying to notice the little pleasures and have been surprised by how many there are – if I slow down for a moment and become aware of my every-moment experience, I notice little pleasures I usually miss. The flavors and smells of my food, the colours of the sky or the land or people’s clothing, the feeling of warmth when I’m cold, the flow of conversation with a friend, realizing I have a few free hours – they’re pleasureable, and I’m starting to deliberately create these experiences just because they feel good. When I keep up the good feelings and put them together with decent sleep, a bit of exercise and eating well, I know I’m doing my bit to keep myself healthy and happy.

Fran Vertue is a clinical psychologist, practicing at the Child and Family Psychology Centre in Christchurch. You can learn more about her and her work at www.christchurchpsychology.co.nz.

Children (of all ages) who experience frequent, intense and poorly resolved conflict and harshness between their parents suffer terribly. These children are also at risk for a number of negative psychological outcomes including depression, anxiety, aggression, hostility, and poor social skills.

Exposure to intense parental conflict is linked with chronic stress in children. High arousal levels may interfere with children’s capacity to figure out what is going on at an emotional level. Academic progress may be impaired as there is a link between stress and impaired thinking. Children may expend energy on maintaining their parents’ marriage, or protecting a parent’s feelings, at the expense of their own developmental tasks. The child experiences negative feelings (sadness, anxiety), holds negative thoughts (the world is unsafe, I am at fault, I have to be good), and develops negative models for family life (it’s normal for family members to control each other and hurt each other and not seek help). Behaviour problems and physical problems without a physical cause are often reported and regression to an earlier stage of development may occur. As conflict continues, the suffering of children tends to deepen.

Conflict between a child’s parents also disrupts the child’s relationships with both parents. The pathway by which conflict affects the child so profoundly may be that the conflict threatens the child’s survival and places in question whether their needs can actually be met by their parents. Basically, children need to feel that their parents are sufficiently focused on them so they are safe and cared for. Conflict indicates that parents are preoccupied with something else. This is experienced as confusing, frightening, and very sad by children.

The children I see in my practice who are in this situation eloquently and tearfully describe their intense suffering. Some of the worst scenarios are when children are caught in the trap of not being able to show their love for both of their parents because one parent may hold immense rage and distress about the other parent. Children may learn that one parent feels very negatively about the other parent. Children don’t need to be told this – they pick it up from facial expressions, tone of voice, and other nonverbal clues. To ensure that they don’t distress the first parent, the child may internalise and suppress this negativity within themselves as “I am bad…I am to blame”. There is great guilt and shame attached to these thoughts. Conflict between parents may be especially toxic if the conflict centres on the children themselves; their behaviour, or decisions about them such as custody, schools, management of behaviour, daily routines or health management.

Helping children make sense of their conflicting emotions may assist in these circumstances. However, living with ongoing conflict means that children’s suffering will continue. It is up to parents to address their feelings and seek help and support so that everyone can move on. As the Dalai Lama states, “Forgiveness is not about letting off the perpetrator of some wrong; it is about freeing the victim”. Children caught in the middle of parental conflict are victims – separated parents need to let each other go in order to free their children from harm.

Prue Fanselow-Brown is a clinical psychologist, practicing at the Child and Family Psychology Centre in Christchurch. You can learn more about Prue and her work at www.christchurchpsychology.co.nz.

How do we get information about things in life? Through direct experience, through education, and through observation. Whilst most of our observation is of things going on around us in everyday life, a lot of our observation is through the media – that is rather than observing “real life” we observe the lives of others in fiction and it’s estranged sibling “reality TV”. We can make a conscious effort to separate out what is real from what is not but how often do we do so? Take alcohol and drug use for example. While most of us will have plenty of direct or observational experience of alcohol use in our own lives this is less often true for drug use. New Zealand survey data suggests that most of us have tried cannabis but certainly with other drugs the level of experience is substantially lower. A lot of what we do know about “hard drugs” is likely to be formed through our exposure to movies and television.

Dr Gavin Cape from the University of Otago has suggested that depictions of drug use in cinema fall in to five main groups: Tragic hero (e.g. Trainspotting, Leaving Las Vegas), Rebellious free spirit (e.g. Easy Rider), Demonised addict/homicidal mania (e.g. Reefer Madness, Once Were Warriors), and Humorous/Comedic user (e.g. Arthur, Saving Grace). . Movies often use stereotypes which can act as shortcuts so we can safely make some assumptions about a character’s back-story without the director needing to waste precious screen time. For example if someone is shown as an illegal drug user the connotation is of deviance, corruption, untrustworthiness, and mentally unstable. This raises the question of whether movies and the media more generally simply reflect social norms or help shape those norms. Movies can reinforce stereotypes, as famously occurs in the 1936 movie Reefer Madness showing drug crazed youth corrupted by cannabis. Alternately they can explore contentious social issues, for example the 2000 movie Traffic which sought to show the illegal drug trade from the perspective of various agents.

A recently released documentary by film-maker Martin Spurlock (POM Fabulous: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold) puts the spotlight on the growing trend of product placement in cinema and on TV. Product placement is a subtle form of advertising whereby the product is visible and usually shown in a positive light as either incidental background or as a more explicit part of the script. We know when we are viewing a formal advertisement, while product placement is more insidious. Specifically by not being clearly identifiable as an advertisement we may fail to bring critical judgment to bear on the implied claims of a product. If a soft drink is advertised as healthy and for cool people we can decide whether or not this is plausible, but if we see a succession of representations of movie/TV characters who are healthy and cool consuming that soft drink we may have our perceptions for the product altered without us realizing it. As restrictions on advertising for smoking become stronger the ability to depict smoking in other forms of mass media becomes more important to the industry. If New Zealand takes the sensible route of placing greater restrictions on the extensive advertising and promotion of alcohol (approximately $320,000 per day currently) we might expect to see product placement becoming a more important part of the alcohol industries arsenal. Cinema and TV provide a great source of entertainment and have an important role to play is exploring and reflecting our society, but we do need to be vigilant as consumers of that entertainment that we are not being “programmed by the programmes”.

Dr Simon Adamson is a clinical psychologist specializing in alcohol, other drugs and behavioral addictions. You can learn more about him and his work at www.christchurchpsycholoy.co.nz.

Earthquake Recovery Information Sheet

The essential list for everything recovery.

Free Counselling and Support

Samaritans 0800 726 666 – 24/7

Lifeline 0800 543 354 – 24/7

Youthline – Any issue any time. 0800 376 633 or free text 234 www.youthline.co.nz

Victim Support Telephone contact 0800 842 846 – 24/7. People may need to leave their details and a volunteer will ring them back. www.victimsupport.org.nz

Relationship Services Whakawhanaungatanga Trained counsellors are operating out of several locations around the city with the main office based in Linwood. 0800 RELATE (0800 735 283) www.relate.org.nz

Salvation Army Available until 8pm to make appointments for face to face counselling sessions. 377 0799 www.salvationarmy.org.nz
St Johns Caring Caller Service – volunteers who can make daily phone calls to people at home to provide support. Email referrals to: jacci.tatnell@stjohn.org.nz

WorkPlace Support www.workplacesupport.co.nz Support is available for not- for-profit community based social service organisations requiring support for employees who are impacted by the ongoing effects of the Canterbury Earthquake.

Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) 24hr 0800327669 confidential support.

Anxiety Support Canterbury www.anxietysupport.org.nz 377 9665

Alcohol Drug Helpline Confidential information, referral and intervention service 10am-10pm 7 days 0800 787 797 www.adanz.org.nzEssential Contacts

Stronger Canterbury all things earthquake canterburyearthquake.govt.nz

Earthquake Government Helpline 24hrs – 0800 779 997

A 24/7 service for people requiring information on income support, housing options, health issues, community assistance, Civil Defence or any other government service. Language Line is available for non-English speakers.

Right Service Right Time 0800 777 846 www.rightservice.org.nz

Government helpline for support & counselling

For Samoan speaking 0800 663 003 and Tongan speaking 0800 669 009.

Healthline 24hrs 0800 611 116

The service is staffed by registered nurses who will assess your health needs, and give information and advice to help you decide on the best level of care. Language Line is available via Healthline for non-English speakers.

Earthquake Commission (EQC) 0800 DAMAGE 326 243 www.eqc.govt.nz

For information on EQC’s insurance cover, cleaning up and making a claim.

Councils For help with essential council services such as water supply or sewage disposal.

Christchurch http://www.ccc.govt.nz/ 03 941 8999

Waimakariri http://www.waimakariri.govt.nz/ 03 313 6136

Selwyn http://www.selwyn.govt.nz/ 03 347-2800 or Darfield 03 318-8338

Accessing Support

Canterbury Temporary Accommodation Service provides temporary housing support to people affected by the earthquakes. Also for people who have accommodation available to offer. www.quakeaccommodation.govt.nz 0800 673 227.

Chimney Replacement Programme EECA can replace damaged chimneys with a free clean, efficient heater http://www.eeca.govt.nz/eeca-programmes-and-funding/programmes/chimney-replacement. Those homes with occupants who are sick, elderly or who have young children, or houses with no other heating source are being prioritised. If this is you and you already have a claim in with the EQC, e-mail heating@eqr.co.nz or call the EQC on 0800 326 243 (0800 DAMAGE).

Canterbury Men’s Centre ‘The blokes’ Book’ – a listing of Canterbury agencies and services relevant to men’s health and well-being. “Munted Mates” group for people (men and women) with Munted Houses on the east side. www.canmen.org.nz ph 940 9487.

Webhealth is a great resource for health and wellbeing information and links. Includes health & social service directories, health information and a great community notice board. www.webhealth.co.nz

Ministry of Social Development www.msd.govt.nz/emergency/index

Ministry of Health www.moh.govt.nz

Funding and Financial Support

Red Cross – 3 grants Relocated School Children Grant, Winter Assistance for under 5s and over 65s Grant available. The closing dates have been extended until Wednesday 13th July. Call 0800 754 726 or www.redcrosseqgrants.org.nz for funding applications and criteria.

WINZ Emergency Grant for childcare, replacing household goods and other emergency expenses like electricity and food even if you are not on a benefit. 0800 559 009.

Christchurch City Council – 5 separate grants

The Mayoral Earthquake Relief Fund was established to provide money for any charitable, benevolent, philanthropic or cultural purpose related to the adverse effects of the 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011 earthquakes. www.ccc.govt.nz/homeliving/civildefence/chchearthquake/MayoralReliefFund

The Mayor’s Welfare Fund established in 1897. It provides assistance to families and individuals in our community who are in extreme financial distress. The fund works with other helping agencies in the city and can provide assistance on a one-off basis where real need can be shown. www.ccc.govt.nz/cityleisure/communityfunding/mayorswelfare/index

Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Building Fund The purpose of the Fund is to provide assistance to owners of heritage buildings to repair damage caused by the Canterbury Earthquake of 4 September 2010 and associated aftershocks. Funding will be targeted at the gap between insurance cover, and the actual cost of repairs and associated works including conservation works, structural upgrading and Building Code compliance works. Also the Heritage Incentive Grant Fund to provide financial assistance to owners of heritage items listed in the City Plan. www.ccc.govt.nz/

cityleisure/artsculture/christchurchheritage/heritagegrantsatwork/index Discretionary Response Fund To assist community groups where their project funding request falls outside other Council funding criteria and/or closing dates. This fund is also for emergency funding for unforeseen situations. www.ccc.govt.nz/cityleisure/communityfunding/discretionaryresponse/index

CCC 941 8999 www.ccc.govt.nz

Family Services (MSD) Funding 0800 777 100 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Individual Recovery and Community Wellbeing Training Organisations are invited to apply to provide training to volunteers and paid employees of organisations who deliver the first level of support to those affected by the Canterbury earthquakes.

Community Response Fund is a short-term, time limited response to address immediate cost and demand pressures the economic downturn is placing on key community-based critical social services for families, children, young and older people.

Canterbury Earthquake Community Response Fund to support social service providers respond to emergency pressures associated with the recent earthquake affecting the communities of Christchurch City, Waimakariri and Selwyn Districts.

See also Family Services Support and Counselling services www.familyservices.govt.nz

General Information

Tenants Protection Assoc www.tpa.org.nz 379-2297 info@tpa.org.nz

Business Owners helpline 0800 42 49 46 http://www.recovercanterbury.co.nz/

Registered builders/providers list see www.earthquakefix.co.nz

Healthy Christchurch has continual updates and news on our new website. You can also find out more about Healthy Christchurch, the 193 signatory organisations and our other collaborative projects at www.healthychristchurch.org.nz or healthychristchurch@cdhb.govt.nz

Updated 30/06/11       www.healthychristchurch.org.nz