Support for Nikau House
Support for retaining mental health facility Nikau House was evident at a community meeting, where members spoke of its positive impact on their lives.
Around 50 Nikau House service users, family members and supporters gathered at River Kitchen in Nelson on Thursday evening to discuss the proposed closure of the 30-year-old facility.
The meeting, organised by Labour candidate for Nelson, Rachel Boyack, , PSA organiser Hilma Schieving and family members of Nikau House users, was chaired by Penny Molnar.
Boyack said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Nelson Marlborough Health proposal to close the mental health facility and to hear the community’s views, so an informed submission could be provided to the health board.
Molnar said it was a chance to take note of what was important and they were thankful for the opportunity to respond to the DHB.
‘‘We are in this waka together,’’ she told the room.
Discussion was focused on the points put forward in the proposal; the view that clients were similar across different agencies, that there was a duplication of services, that Nikau House fostered dependency, and the concept of setting up a multi-agency hub for several services.
A woman who had attended Nikau House for a number of years said it was ‘‘lifesaving’’ and it stopped her from attempting suicide, or trying to.
‘‘It’s much more positive for me to be at Nikau than to end up in the mental health unit. When you go into the unit you don’t have a choice, you have to do what you are told. Nikau House fosters your ability to have a choice.’’
Another Nikau House user said recovery was ‘‘a complex, individualised journey from unwellness to wellness, from dependence to independence’’ and the proposal suggested a ‘‘naive view from someone who doesn’t understand this principle’’.
‘‘Some people will always need extra support, this is not the same thing as dependency.’’
Many users agreed that attending Nikau House had reduced their admissions to the mental health unit, and given them hope after being released that they could live well in the community again.
Daniel Timms said he had been going to Nikau House for three-anda-half years and the support he received there had proven there was life after mental illness.
‘‘It’s a stepping stone after being in the psychiatric ward.’’
Nelson Green Party candidate Dr Aaron Stallard said the consultation did not appear to contain input from a mental health professional, and it raised more questions than answers.
The suggestion that clients were similar across agencies and that there was a duplication of community mental health services had not been quantified.
‘‘Our view was that it is not sufficient to bring this up without some demonstration it is the case.’’
While staff, service users and family were able to provide feedback on the proposed closure, concerns had been raised over the lack of public consultation.
Nelson Marlborough Health general manager of mental health Jane Kinsey previously said there was no public consultation, as the service was not able to be accessed by the general public.
But those at the meeting unanimously agreed that mental illness could affect anyone at any point in their lives, and rejected that view.
Nelson Marlborough Health has extended the date for submissions on the proposed closure of Nikau House by a week to end on July 3. The final decision would be communicated to staff on July 20.