Mental Health Workers Raise the Alarm

Thursday 9th February,2017

Press Release from: The People’s Mental Health Review and ActionStation

The People’s Mental Health Review supports the public action taken today by the Public Service Association.

In an open letter published today in the Dominion Post, Mental Health workers took the unusual step of speaking out publicly about their grave concerns about Mental Health treatment resources in the Capital Coast District Health Board catchment.

This reinforces what was reported in the recent Mellsop Review into services in the greater Wellington region.

“I think the fact that mental health workers have felt they have had to publish an open letter in a national newspaper to get their voices heard highlights how little attention the Minister is paying to mental health.” says People’s Mental Health Review spokesperson Kyle MacDonald. “This step has obviously only been taken because Minister Coleman has stopped listening to the very real concerns of clinicians and consumers. That is exactly why we commenced the People’s Mental Health Review.”

This recent review of CCDHB services was triggered after five avoidable deaths, murders by consumers who were unable to receive the treatment they needed due to a severe lack of resources. Yet the PSA they have repeatedly approached Minister Coleman about the dire situation in the CCDHB mental health services, only to be told there is no problem.

We call upon Minister Coleman to meaningfully engage with the concerns expressed by the PSA, and others, and start working with the sector to solve the very real problems that exist.

For more information on The People’s Review of the Mental Health System:

See: publicmentalhealthreview.nz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peoplesmentalhealthreview/

ENDS

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