Shameful struggle for mental health funding in Canterbury

The Government needs to listen to the people of Canterbury and what the health professionals there are saying about the level of mental health need in the community, says Ian Powell, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS).

“It’s shameful that Canterbury’s communities are struggling to get the mental health treatment they need following the devastating earthquakes in the region. People are still dealing with the trauma of losing families, friends, their homes and businesses in the quakes and they need assistance to recover.”

Mr Powell was commenting was on reports that Canterbury’s mental health funding is being reduced, even as the Canterbury DHB says it faces unprecedented pressure for services (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/76850687/canterburys-mental-health-funding-to-be-cut and http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/76934698/editorial-mental-health-funding-cuts-a-disgrace).

“It beggars belief that the people of Canterbury, including small children, are living with the after-effects of these earthquakes without proper funding for the assistance they need, and the Government needs to fix this situation.”

ENDS

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