Despite knowing what neo-liberalism is, you may not understand the gravity of how it affects us all as a society. In Aotearoa, New Zealand we saw the implementation of the neo-liberal ideology embedded in ‘Rogernomics’, the economic policies of the NZ government of 1984. So, what does that mean for the average kiwi? This was a monetary policy that privatised essential services in Aotearoa, New Zealand including essential health and mental health services (Barnett & Bagshaw, 2020).
This reduced public expenditure on social services, thus returning responsibility (and cost) to the people. Everyone is responsible for their own ability to access services (Vintimilla, 2014). Successive governments have pushed forward with the neo-liberal juggernaut, implementing measures of privatisation (Barnett & Bagshaw, 2020).
Privatisation and competition have resulted in inequality and unfair distribution of access to adequate healthcare, especially mental health care. This is disproportionately faced by children, the poor, and Māori, Pacific and minority people (Barnett & Bagshaw, 2020). Access to healthcare and mental healthcare, today, in late 2022 has not improved as much as it needs to since the reforms of the 1980s and 1990s, but there are things we can do to improve our and our children’s mental wellness.
An underlying factor in mental wellness is brain health, and this is something we can improve through a balanced diet, adequate sleep, exercise and educating ourselves and our children (Martin. P, 2005). This week I am going to focus on what we can do to help our children overcome some of this imposed inequality.
Happiness in childhood is by far much easier to achieve than in adulthood. Children have a few basic needs to be met for happiness and healthy mental well-being, including adequate nutrition. Nutrition needs can be met by ensuring that 2-3 healthy meals are available each day to these young minds, along with an adequate supply of fresh clean water (Martin. P, 2005). Another key component of positive mental health is getting adequate sleep, we have in the past thought eight hours for everyone, which has been revised to six hours for some individuals, but as a healthy rule for our children, it is best to stick to eight hours nightly. I am sure if you are a parent, you will have had children refuse bedtime and then sleep in the next morning, children need sleep in order to make good decisions, which in today’s world is more crucial than ever (Martin. P, 2005). The third and final aspect of maintaining good mental well-being is exercise, this does not need to be a gym membership or expensive gym equipment, walking or joining team sports are more accessible and easier to achieve (Vintimilla, 2014).
Do your children have a routine bedtime? Do you have a routine bedtime?
Are you ready to get your children moving? Why not go for a walk as a family?
References
Barnett, P., & Bagshaw, P. (2020, April 3). Neoliberalism: what it is, how it affects health and what to do about it. The New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1512), 76-84.
Gershon, I. (2011). “Neoliberal Agency” | Current Anthropology: Vol 52, No 4. The University of Chicago Press: Journals. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/660866
Martin, P. (2005). Making happy people: The nature of happiness and its origins in childhood. Fourth Estate Press.
Vintimilla, C. (2014). Neoliberal Fun and Happiness in Early Childhood Education | Journal of Childhood Studies. UVic Journal Publishing Service. Retrieved December 15, 2022, from
https://journals.uvic.ca/index.php/jcs/article/view/15246
