National Council

John van der Heyden: (President)

John is based in Wellington, is a family member with a close association with Atareira, Wellington’s branch office, as the Chair of its governance board. Atareira provides family support, education, housing and vocational training. He has spent over 30 years as a Police officer and is now based at Police National HQ.

Fiona Perry: (Treasurer)

Fiona is a member of the local Whanganui committee, and a family member. She has a daughter who has depression and was introduced to SF by a friend and has valued the support provided. She is employed as a Senior Service Facilitator in NASC (Needs Assessment Service Co-ordination Service) supporting people over 65 with age related disability. Married with 2 adult children; her husband is semi-retired and supportive of her involvement. Currently in her second year of study for a postgrad diploma in Disability studies – sponsored by the Ministry of Health.

Ernie Tait

Ernie is a Christchurch lawyer and has had a long association with SFMI. He has been playing a major role in bringing the housing project to a point of near-completion.

Max Lloyd

Max is Chair of the SFMI Auckland board, a role he has held for 3 years. He runs a private psychotherapy practice in Auckland, and has had a 30-year career in various forms of mental health and AoD service provision.

Jim Crowe: (Media Spokesperson)

Jim has been a community worker and advocate for over 30 years, 27 of these in the area of mental illness which began with his appointment by SF Otago as their first Fieldworker.

Jim’s involvement with Schizophrenia Fellowship (NZ), including four years as President, led onto him being elected in 1996 to the Board of the World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders (WFSAD) of which he served terms as Vice President, President, and Chairman Asia Region. WFSADs' main role was to strengthen families affected by mental illness. This led to Jim visiting Japan, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Australia, England, Ireland, Holland, France, Germany, Argentina, USA, Hawaii, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Taiwan, South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, Uruguay and Thailand where he was involved in delivering educational workshops, running discussion groups for both families and professionals and supporting the establishment of National Family organizations.

Jim also ran workshops, and gave papers at conferences and symposiums in many of these countries, and supported the establishment of the Asian Brain Bank by the Fukushima University, Japan. His responsibility for the Asian region led onto the formation of an Asian Forum where ten countries met annually to share their achievements and make plans for the future. He is also involved in a number of Trusts in his hometown of Dunedin and nationally.
Jim was awarded a 1990 Commemorative Medal by Her Majesty for services to New Zealand, particularly for work with individuals and families affected by mental illness. He was a member of the 1996 Commission of Enquiry into Mental Health Services in New Zealand chaired by Judge Ken Mason. This led to the Mental health Commission being set up, Early Intervention Services, Like Minds, Like Mine and better funding to Youth and Adolescents’ and to the community in general.

He is a Foundation Member of both the RANZCP Community Collaboration Committee and the Board of Practice and Partnerships.He now sits as an observer on the General Council of the College. This is the first time in the history of the College (RANZCP) that a community person has held such a position. In 2004 he was a recipient of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry Citation for Unique and Outstanding Contribution in Advocating for Improved Mental Health Services.

RANZCP = Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry