Youth case goes to mental health inquiry

A Nelson teenager hopes a Government inquiry into mental health will listen to her campaign against changes to a youth after-hours service.

There was standing room only at a public meeting held by the sixmember Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry panel in Nelson on Thursday.

Teenager Zoe Palmer, who has been campaigning against changes to the child and adolescent mental health after-hours service, attended the meeting to voice her concerns.

She presented the inquiry panel with the results of her survey that supported the retention of youth specialists in the after-hours service. It is planned to be replaced by a team that caters to all ages.

‘‘I really hope it wasn’t tokenism and they are going to listen,’’ she said.

Palmer said several others also spoke of their opposition to removing youth specialists from the child and adolescent mental health afterhours service. ‘‘There was a person there who I didn’t know with a billboard that read, ‘For crisis sake, we need specialists’.’’

Former Labour candidate for Nelson Rachel Boyack said the meeting was ‘‘absolutely packed’’ and there had been a focus on prevention, and what could be done as a society to better support people.

‘‘What I really appreciated was that people were able to tell their stories in an environment where they were listened to and respected.

‘‘The community had called for this inquiry quite strongly, and I was absolutely convinced after the meeting this was the right thing for Labour to initiate in government.’’

Boyack said it was also an opportunity for the health board to consult with young people and their families over the child and adolescent mental health service.

‘‘Last night’s meeting really highlighted to me the importance of really giving people the opportunity to be properly heard.’’

The inquiry was among Labour’s first-100-day campaign promises, made in the midst of publicity for widespread concerns surrounding the effectiveness of services.

The panel, including Mason Durie, has been asked to listen to people affected by mental illness and addiction.

It will recommend changes that can help people get the help they need and improve public confidence. It is due to report back to Health Minister David Clark by October.

Inquiry chair and former health and disability commissioner Ron Paterson said a wide range of issues was raised by young and old at the meeting.

‘‘Interestingly, we heard from a real balance of people, those whose needs haven’t been met but also people who had really good experiences.’’

Paterson said the inquiry had been asked to hear the voices of the community and had a short timeframe in which to do that.

‘‘Our task is to come up with recommendations that are broad, fresh and bold and that deal with mental wellbeing and prevention, not simply responding when people are already in crisis.’’

Paterson said he had also met former judge Ken Mason, who chaired the last major mental health inquiry.

‘‘Ken said to me, ‘Go and hear the voices of the people and they will tell you the answers’, and indeed, we had that experience last night.’’

Paterson said the panel also spent Friday in Nelson meeting people working in mental health and addiction services, peer and consumer advisers, and nongovernmental organisations.

There are 30 dates set for regional visits, including 15 where the public can take part.

Paterson said the meeting was only one way for people to share their recommendations with the panel. Anyone wanting to make a submission could visit the mental health and addiction inquiry website or call 0800 644 678 for further details.

samantha.gee@stuff.co.nz