When one talks about health, most of us immediately associate it with physical health, but there is no denying that one's mental health and well-being is also critical. In this stressful globalised world that we live in, coupled with the global pandemic, it sometimes gets challenging to be mentally strong and well.
And that is when one does need the intervention of the mental health system. But it doesn't seem that New Zealand’s mental health system is strong enough to deal with the increasing pressure.
And that is why a petition called 'Improve the NZ mental health system and crisis response' was started by Melissa Lodge. It has so far got around 300 signatures.
Sharing her reason for starting the petition, Lodge wrote, “The pandemic has taken a big toll on people's mental health, which means there are a lot more people struggling and unable to access help. Our mental health system is literally the ambulance at the bottom of a cliff. It is not okay that NZ continues to have one of the highest rates of youth suicide, and the mental health system is only getting worse. Things need to change.
“I am watching friends get sicker and sicker as they sit on a waiting list for help. And I am seeing friends move overseas just to get help with their mental health because NZ’s system doesn’t help. The wait times are months long to even get a first appointment with a professional, and then often, people are classed as not ‘serious’ enough for help in the public system. They are understaffed, don't have enough resources.”
Lodge also points out that even the private sector finds it difficult to cope with the increasing demand. "The private sector is now struggling to keep up with the number of people being failed by the public system, and there are extremely long waitlists to be seen by a private therapist, which a lot of people who are struggling with their mental health are unable to afford.”
One of the signatories, Rihannon Renee, wrote, “The mental health crisis is a way bigger pandemic than covid will ever be."
Another petition supporter, Gabby Good, wrote, "The mental health system has failed me endless amount of times to date. They never listen until it’s too late. I hate seeing so many people of all ages struggle mentally. WE. NEED. HELP. I just wish they would hear us and listen to us.”
Indian Weekender spoke to people working in the mental health sector to know about their take and their expectation from the government in this space.
“Those in most need and with fewest resources miss out"
Mental health distress continues to grow, but help doesn't keep up. That's the view of the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists (NZAP). It's also the evidence from a recent critical report from Otago University about New Zealand's overworked mental health system. Dr John Farnsworth, NZAP's Chair of Public Issues, comments, “We know there are long waiting lists in the public system, especially for acute assistance. It's true in the private system too. We know hospital services also can't meet mental health or addictions demands. Often, those in most need and with fewest resources miss out."
“Our people require more accessible, timely, holistic and clinical interventions"
Amitesh Singh, Chairperson, NZ Fiji Families Wellbeing Trust, also maintains that the community struggles to get adequate help and support. He says, " We are a community with a high level of suicide attempts and lives are lost due to suicide, as well as a high number of family violence cases. We are struggling to get support and access to help in a timely manner. Over the last two years, despite our numerous requests to various organisations whose purpose is to serve our community, we have found them to be unhelpful and irresponsive. Moreover, our Fijian i-taukei community is not well consulted and informed of the available services. We do not get much support, and this becomes the sad truth of our struggles as a community.
“The Ministry of Pacific Peoples and the Ministry of Ethnic Communities have to work more closely together in this space. Our people require more accessible, timely, holistic and clinical interventions, as well as adequate support for the most vulnerable in our community.”
“We have limited resources"
Presbyterian Support Northern (PSN), which provides Lifeline Aotearoa (a 24/7 helpline service for people in a state of distress and people concerned about someone they know), also believes that the resources are limited.
Commenting on the same, a spokesperson of PSN says, "We receive more than 10,000 calls and receive and send more than 30,000 texts a month. With no Government funding, we have limited resources and are entirely dependent on donations to provide our services.”
"There is considerable pressure on inpatient mental health services across the country."
When we contacted the government, Philip Grady, acting Deputy Director-General, Mental Health and Addiction, acknowledged that there is pressure on the mental health services across NZ.
He said, “There is considerable pressure on inpatient mental health services across the country, and the demands of Covid-19 has only increased this pressure on our people and systems. It is unlikely that anyone working in the sector feels things are where they need to be. That is why we are all working hard to improve and transform the mental health and addiction system.”
“Improving mental health facilities is also a priority for this government, and as part of Budget 2019, a significant investment has been set aside to upgrade existing mental health and addiction facilities and build new facilities. This work is being driven by the government's 2019 budget investment of $1.9 billion. It also involves the wider health reforms underway which will see Health NZ, the Maori Health Authority and the Ministry of Health working together.”
“Since 2019, there are already new and enhanced services in every area of New Zealand aiming to help thousands of New Zealanders every month. Our Access and Choice programme, which provides free mental health and addiction support in GPs offices and clinics around the country, is ensuring that people with mild to moderate issues can find support more easily.
“We know that vulnerable people may be adversely affected at times of uncertainty, such as the Covid-19 pandemic we are in. Access and Choice services have been working hard to take some of the pressure off frontline hospital staff and provide support to those who need it.”
Giving details about the services, he pointed out, “Access and Choice services (including IPMHA, Maori, Pacific, and Youth programmes) have provided more than 323,000 sessions since the programme began and supported more than 17,500 people in January alone. We now have 850 Access, and Choice health professionals and health coaches added to the frontline of services through this programme, covering a population base of two million New Zealanders.
“There has also been significant investment in online self-help tools and telehealth services (like 1737), so New Zealanders can access support at any time. Moreover, since Budget 19, the government has established the Suicide Prevention Office. Substantial progress has been made implementing suicide prevention efforts since September 2019. This includes committed investment of $40 million invested over four years.”