Families of the Mentally Ill Ignored

Embargoed until 5pm, Monday 9 March 2009
Media Statement

Families of the Mentally Ill Ignored

“Families of people experiencing a serious mental illness are not getting the recognition and support they need from mental health professionals for the pivotal role they can play in a relative’s recovery. This is leading to avoidable relapses, with families left to pick up the pieces” said Florence Leota, Chief Executive of Schizophrenia Fellowship New Zealand (SFNZ).

In an address at the Wellington launch of Supporting Families Awareness Week, Ms Leota commented on feedback from SFNZ branches throughout the country which overwhelmingly pointed to inadequate consultation with families by mental health professionals. Over 90% of branches reported that District Health Boards included families in recovery planning only sometimes or not at all.

Research has shown that people who experience mental illness have fewer relapses when their family/whanau is involved in their care and treatment.

“SFNZ is a staunch advocate for integrated care – this means complementing the use of clinical support for someone with a mental illness, with support in other areas that impact on their overall health and quality of life.

“Ten years ago SFNZ recognized the need to reinforce the rights of families/whanau within the mental health system so we developed the Code of Family Rights. New Zealand is the first country to have one and other countries are looking to follow our lead,” Ms Leota says.

“However experience has shown that in practice, the rights enshrined in the Code are either not being observed at all or at best, not being observed very well. This confirms the need to see the Code regulated in the same way that the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights has been.

SFNZ is currently working with the Mental Health Commission in an effort to have the Code of Family Rights regulated.

“Families need a regulation that provides them with rights to services, information, consultation and support. The alternative is to undermine the recovery process for people with a serious mental illness, with an increasing number of relapses and families at the bottom of the cliff coping with the stress of the fallout,” concluded Ms Leota.

ENDS

© Scoop Media