Stress management and related therapies group (SMART SIG)

Physiotherapy to treat stress and mental disorders in New Zealand developed in three centres from the 1970s.  Beryl Ingram in Wellington,  Barbara Guthrie in Auckland and Margaret Moon in Christchurch all developed mental health programmes.  Margaret Moon had an early interest in psychiatry and in 1969 and the 1970’s had published articles about physiotherapy and psychiatry in Physiotherapy and Medical Journals.  This interest was not widespread amongst other physiotherapists although Ros Ham tried to convene a committee to investigate interest in psychiatry in 1983[1].. 

Eileen Lamb voiced concern in May 1991 about the lack of awareness of work being done by physiotherapists in mental health[2].  It was decided to contact physiotherapists working in the field to seek their recommendations.  The Newsletter for August 1992 advertised a workshop in Auckland for physiotherapists working in mental health.

Jeanette Thorne contacted physiotherapists working in the area in July 1993 and a questionnaire in the NZSP September 1993 Newsletter went to all physiotherapists.  With 30 responses members considered forming a group in 1994,  to be known as the Stress Management and Related Therapies Group. 

The AGM for physiotherapists working in mental health was advertised in the Newsletter for March 1994 page 3. In April 1994 the rules of the group were with MRC and the name changed to Stress Management and Related Therapies Group. (SMART)  The first Newsletter was produced in November 1994[3].  The group received formal recognition at the Society’s 1995 AGM.  The focus of the group was on mental health,  hyperventilation,  substance abuse,  body awareness,  stress management,  related therapies and the rehabilitation of torture victims.

Two Newsletters were distributed in 1995,  followed in Auckland by Saturday morning seminars on the newsletter topic.  The September seminar,  which gained College accreditation,  gathered data to establish guidelines for the physiotherapy assessment of stress,  and was shaped into a workable model by the committee.  Major objectives were to foster ongoing professional education and develop national strategies,  guidelines and standards.  The publication in Britain of the text “Physiotherapy in Mental Health” complemented advanced courses available in New Zealand.

Several members attended international events.  Dinah Bradley,  Rosemary Mannering and Tania Clifton attended the 1994 International Symposium on Respiratory Psychophysiology and Rosemary visited British Mental Health Services as well.  Barbara Guthrie represented NZSP at the international training seminar for physiotherapy teachers on Ethics and Torture.  The physiotherapist’s role was identified and a high standard of clinical expertise essential[4]..  A statement about the International Seminar on Torture was published in the Newsletter for August 1995 page 3.and again in March 1997 page 11.

Two half day seminars were held in 1996 - in June “The use of Motivational Techniques in Physiotherapy” was the topic and the workshop in November was based on a paper presented at the NZSP Conference in March in Dunedin - “The Spectrum and Abuse - Recognition and Action”.

Newsletters and seminars in Auckland continued,  some members travelling from out of town to attend.  The challenge was to make these available outside Auckland.  The 35 members developed standards of practice for the group and in 1996 contributed to the Society’s submission to the Mason Commission of Inquiry into Mental Health Services published in the Newsletter for March 1996 page 3[5].

From their 1997 AGM the group were based in Christchurch[6]. and made a submission to the curriculum review for the Otago School in 1998[7]. 

A course on Physiotherapy in Mental Health was held at Sunnyside Hospital,  Christchurch in March 1997[8];  in September 1997 Tania Clifton wrote a newsletter article about the Hyperventilation Syndrome. Most presentations had already received College accreditation. 

The NZSP Conference in Napier in 1998 had several speakers concerned with Mental Health;  Dr. William Gardner with an interest in hyperventilation was a keynote speaker.  Tania Clifton Smith also spoke about hyperventilation and the impact on physiotherapy[9].  Dinah Morrison presented a workshop on hyperventilation and Rosemary Mannering described the physiotherapy treatment of anxiety disorders.

Dinah Morrison talked to Auckland physiotherapists in April 1998 about the workbook addition to her book  “Hyperventilation Syndrome”  and a two day seminar was held at Hamner Springs.  There Tania Clifton Smith inspired everyone to continue to be aware of the broad scope of physiotherapy and the need to be aware of breathing in the treatment of all conditions.  Other topics covered were Body Awareness and Massage techniques (Linley Rodda);  Rolling Relaxation (Meris Brandam Adams);  Recognising and Treating Anxiety (Rosemary Mannering);  and Measuring Outcomes (Sue Lord).

SMART members were asked to write case studies for publication and offered their congratulations to Tania Clifton Smith on the publication of her book “Breathe to Succeed”.  The wide spread of SMART physiotherapists throughout the country in 1998 was a challenge,  with the hope that modern technology could be used to advantage in the future[10]..  Membership in 1999 was 40.

In 1999 the group were still hoping that electronic linking would facilitate future group interaction[11].

[1] Executive Minutes 26-5-83

[2] Executive Minutes May 1991

[3] Executive Minutes 25-11-94

[4] Annual Report  1995 page 26

[5] Annual Report 1996 page 26

[6] Executive Minutes 15-11-97

[7] Newsletter March 1997 page 8

[8] Newsletter May 1997 page 13

[9] Newsletter September 1997 page 10

[10] Annual Report  1998 page 27

[11] Annual report 1999 page 24