Story: Mental health services

Experience of mental illness: bipolar disorder (1st of 4)

Experience of mental illness: bipolar disorder

Samoan-born Reverend Imoa Setefano was a pastor in Papatoetoe, Auckland, when he and his wife appeared in a television commercial in 2010 for Like Minds, Like Mine. This campaign, produced by the Mental Health Foundation, aims to improve understanding of mental health issues and reduce stigma and discrimination. Setefano revealed that he was at school when he first experienced an episode of bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression). He said, ‘My family have been the rock of my recovery. They remind me that, “Hey, you are still loved. You are still part of our family.”’

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Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand

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How to cite this page:

Warwick Brunton, 'Mental health services - Mental health and mental illness', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/29392/experience-of-mental-illness-bipolar-disorder (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Warwick Brunton, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 5 May 2022