Watchdog joins suicide action calls

The Mental Health Commissioner tells Government reduction target needs to be set, Nicholas Jones reports

The Mental Health Commissioner has called on the Government to set a suicide reduction target. Kevin Allan is the independent watchdog tasked with monitoring and advocating for improvements to mental-health services, and dealing with complaints.

He appeared before Parliament’s health committee yesterday and added his voice to those calling for a target, telling MPs suicide prevention needed to be an integral part of a mental-health plan.

“I know there has been a debate about targets, about reducing suicide. I know there is concern about how do we have Government committing to a suicide target when some of that stuff is outside of their control,” Allan said.

“But I think suicide is such an issue in New Zealand we need to have an active commitment to reducing it. And we need a figure to work towards. It is not the Government’s responsibility alone — they cannot do this by themselves. But I think we need a commitment to a reduction in suicide and a clear target for that.”

Last month the Herald reported on documents that showed Health Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman’s office had declined to set a target to reduce the rate of suicide by 20 per cent over a decade.

However, Ministry of Health officials recently said Coleman was “looking into” setting a target.

An expert advisory panel established by the Government had concluded a target to reduce suicide should be the main purpose of the ministry’s new suicide-prevention strategy. The target would have seen New Zealand aiming for 12 fewer people to die from suicide per year, each year until 2027.

Allan told committee members they would not be surprised to be told demand for services was not always being met, and that gaps needed to be filled.

“If you are a GP and you pick up the phone to talk to a gynaecologist you can often get through. If you are a GP and picking up a phone to talk to a psychiatrist there is nobody at the other end. That is not the case in all areas, but we need to do better on those basic sort of things.”

Coleman was recently targeted by lobby group ActionStation, which put up billboards in his Northcote electorate, challenging his decision to not launch a mental-health inquiry.

The billboards look similar to the minister’s campaign billboards, with his picture accompanied by the words “77 per cent of Kiwis want a mental-health inquiry (But not me) — Dr Jonathan Coleman, Minister of Health”.

Yesterday Allan said he agreed with Coleman that an inquiry or review was not the best option, given that could take 12 to 18 months. Rather, an action plan would be a faster way to address shortcomings.

This year’s Budget allocated an extra $224 million over four years to mental health. Coleman is expected to release details of new funded initiatives in the next month.