03 March 2011

Media Release – for immediate release

Non Government organisations providing outstanding support in Christchurch

Non Government Organisations in health, disability support and social services are doing outstanding work in Christchurch says Platform chief executive Marion Blake.

Ms Blake, whose organisation is a national network of mental health and addiction NGOs, said that community support organisations had been working around the clock to help some of the most vulnerable people in the community.

“For many organisations, their buildings were destroyed or damaged, as were the homes of their staff and their clients,” said Ms Blake.

“Records were destroyed in the earthquake and a major task for community support organisations has been locating clients who required ongoing support but who had become ‘lost’ or had been moved to shelters.

“Many clients of mental health and addictions services are suffering from increased fear and anxiety or re-emergence of trauma.

“Support staff have been working incredibly hard to find these people, which they have been successful in doing, to ensure they get the professional help they need and to find new accommodation for them.

“This has highlighted the absolutely critical role that community support services play and this can only grow as demand for their help increases in the weeks and months to come.”

ENDS

About Platform
Platform provides a contact point for nationwide feedback on issues that relate to mental health and addiction NGOs. It aims to give voice to matters that impact on community organisations’ ability to provide services and to promote the role of New Zealand’s health and disability community sector nationally and internationally.

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