Political unity on mental health

They were last seen together engaging in fiery election debates – but Nelson’s four main political representatives have found common ground to save what they say is an essential Nelson service.

Following a public meeting organised by 18-year-old mental health campaigner Zoe Palmer, the Nelson representatives of National, Labour, the Greens and NZ First are jointly calling on the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board and the Government to halt planned changes to the city’s specialist after-hours Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

‘‘We are concerned that Nelson’s young people will suffer as a result of the health board’s planned changes to the CAMHS after-hours service,’’ the four said in a statement.

‘‘We are proud of the service that has contributed to Nelson having a lower youth suicide rate than most parts of the country.’’

The DHB has proposed that the on-call after-hours CAMHS crisis service be replaced by a team that caters to all ages.

National MP for Nelson Nick Smith said Friday’s meeting, attended by more than 70 people, was ‘‘moving and constructive’’. Concerns were voiced by young people, their families, and mental health professionals about the restructure.

‘‘There were also those who’d been involved in establishing the service in the 1990s who recalled the very reason for putting it in place was the fact we had high levels of suicide and self-harm in the region,’’ he said.

As well as releasing a joint public statement, the four have signed a letter to Health Minister David Clark outlining their concerns.

Labour’s Rachel Boyack said her biggest concern was the lack of consultation about the proposed changes.

‘‘The thing that’s been coming through from the staff who work

with the adults in the community is they don’t feel they have the capability to work with young people,’’ she said.

Green Party representative Matt Lawrey said he didn’t think it was too much to ask for the DHB to halt its restructure until findings from a Government inquiry into mental health and addiction were known.

The service in Nelson was doing a ‘‘fantastic job’’, and it was possible the review would find it needed to be rolled out across New Zealand, he said.

NZ First’s Sue Sara said the political representatives needed to ‘‘stick together’’ on the issue.

Boyack had suggested that they come together, Smith agreed, Lawrey drafted an initial agreement, and Sara was contacted to see if she would come on board.

Boyack said it was ‘‘a bit historic’’ for them to come together. ‘‘It’s about putting political colours aside and saying this is actually about the Nelson community.’’

Smith said there had been other issues during his more than 20 years in politics where parties had a common view. ‘‘What is perhaps unusual is where that common view is contrary to those of the DHB and currently the Government.’’

Palmer, who has also started a petition and made a film about the service, said the event had been good, with much emotion and a ‘‘full house’’ of attendees.

‘‘At the end I just burst into tears because there were so many people that voted ‘yes’ [to halting the restructure],’’ she said.

The Nelson Marlborough DHB had been approached for comment but could not respond in the time frame given.