Mental health solutions needed as problems grow

Health workers are struggling to cope with an avalanche of people suffering mental distress caused by poverty and other problems they cannot fix.

Midcentral District Health Board clinical executive for mental health and addictions Marcel Westerlund told a Levin public forum that services were flooded with clients whose problems lay outside their control.

‘‘Not everyone we see has a mental disorder. It’s mental distress, caused by poverty, homelessness, unemployment.’’

Westerlund was responding to a challenge from Horowhenua District councillor Victoria Kayesimmons about how the board planned to tackle increasing need for mental healthcare.

Chief executive Kathryn Cook said all providers were challenged by growing mental health and addiction needs, and were trying to work more in the community, and lift in-patient care.

And Westerlund said with 70 admissions to Palmerston North Hospital’s mental health ward each month, and 400 referrals for acute care, hospital-based services could not cope. He said it broke his heart when young people who could not find a job or somewhere to live suffered mental distress or committed suicide. He said the official figure of 34 deaths by suicide in the region last year was sure to be lower than the actual number.

Clinical executive for primary, public and community health Dave Ayling agreed the acute care team was in overload.

He said health teams and communities needed to work together to change the dynamics of the flow of people with mental distress and disorders.