Mental health a key policy issue
The impact of suicide was brought home to Labour’s health spokesman David Clark during a Nelson school visit.
Asked who had been affected by suicide, Clark said every student in a Nelson College for Girls class raised their hand.
‘‘There has been a 60 per cent increase in demand in terms of the number of people accessing mental health services in the last decade and funding has gone up by less than half of that,’’ Clark said.
Mental health remained a hot topic for those who came to meet Clark at a public event held at McCashin’s Brewery in Stoke on Monday evening.
Clark said a Labour-led government would fund an $8 billion injection in health by not proceeding with tax cuts planned by National and not paying down debt as quickly.
Close to 60 people gathered to share their experiences, voice their concerns and ask Clark what his priorities were should he become health minister.
The Dunedin North MP was introduced to the crowd by Nelson Labour Party candidate Rachel Boyack.
Despite the demands of an ageing population with more complex needs, Clark said $2.3 billion had been effectively stripped from the health budget due to successive years of underfunding.
Boyack said that equated to $65 million for the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board.
More than half of those who spoke asked talked about their experience with mental health services or asked Clark what he would do to increase support and improve access.
Clark said the squeeze on mental health services and a lack of funding were common themes around the country.
‘‘We’ve started up a conversation where it is more ok to talk about things, people are putting themselves forward and the care is not there to help them work through the issues and that is why mental health is a top priority for us.’’
The cost of GP visits and the struggle to access specialist services were some of the other issues raised.
Labour has promised to cut GP fees by $10 a visit.