Prevention worker: Get help early

Early intervention will be key to addressing a possible rise in suicides in the wake of the nationwide lockdown, a prevention worker says.

Jamie Allen, of the Taranaki Retreat, said he had never experienced anything like the challenge of Covid-19 in the six years he has worked in the area of suicide prevention, a service that has helped 4000 wha¯ nau to date.

He said the ‘‘ripple effects of lockdown’’ were being felt by people he worked alongside and there was a link to an increased suicide risk. Allen said it was important for that to be acknowledged.

‘‘We have to face that together as a very real possibility and be very proactive in not allowing that to happen.’’

Allen said there was a mix of pressures on people including the impact of isolation, along with extreme hardship and stress.

‘‘I have never known such an intense level of need, coupled with the complications of how to respond to it [lockdown restrictions and physical distancing], and the overall sense of uncertainty.’’

Last week, a discussion paper released by think tank Koi Tu¯ Centre for Informed Futures painted a dire picture of New Zealand following the pandemic.

With an economic recession on the horizon and rising unemployment rates likely, the organisation said this could create a sense of winners and losers in society, along with an increase in high rates of depression and anxiety, as well as the suicide rate.

On Monday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the level four lockdown would end at 11.59pm on Monday, April 27.

After that New Zealand would step down to level three for a further two weeks before the situation was reviewed.

Allen encouraged people who needed help to reach out early, including those who had never taken such a step before.

‘‘The biggest challenge can be pushing through an initial sense of embarrassment of making those initial steps.’’

However, he was confident in the resilience of the region to navigate through the difficulties.

‘‘Time and again, I’ve been moved to tears by people’s courage, resilience and kindness, and amazed at how the Taranaki community has embraced these unprecedented circumstances, rolled up our sleeves, and dealt to it.’’

Inspector Brent Register, acting national manager prevention, said police were aware the current lockdown was a cause of stress and uncertainty for many people.

‘‘Our initial data, and based on what we know has happened in some overseas jurisdictions, we did expect to see an increase in mental health-related calls for services as people struggle with the impact of isolation and the general stress of the pandemic,’’ he said.

Register said while it was too early to provide official data, anecdotally mental health-related calls remained steady, with no significant spike or decline.

He said international research had also suggested there would be an increase in self-harm incidents but officers had not seen this yet.

Register reiterated Allen’s calls for people to reach out if they needed help.

‘‘We want to remind everyone that it is OK to ask for help for yourself or for someone else. Help is available,’’ he said.

Dr Sharat Shetty, Taranaki District Health Board’s clinical director of mental health and psychiatric services, acknowledged the ‘‘immense strain’’ the lockdown period had caused.

However, the numbers of those needing acute mental health assistance, on either a compulsory or voluntary basis, since the lockdown began were below normal. Since March 25, there had been 13 admissions in 17 days into Te Puna Waiora, the hospital’s mental health unit, Shetty’s written statement said.

‘‘Under normal circumstances we average 40 admissions a month, so 13 admissions in 17 days is below average.’’

‘‘The biggest challenge can be pushing through an initial sense of embarrassment.’’ Jamie Allen, Taranaki Retreat

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