‘We have a problem with mental health in this country and our suicide rate is shameful.’

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announcing a mental health inquiry

Nothing is off the table for the Government as it prepares to dive into the crisis of a mental health sector that has been overrun by demand.

The inquiry, announced yesterday by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, will take an extensive look at the diverse drivers of mental health issues, including social media pressures, poverty, family violence and homophobia.

It will also look at the underfunding of addiction services, and why there are disproportionate outcomes for Maori and other groups.

Flanked by Health Minister David Clark for the announcement, Ardern encouraged the inquiry to look at the sector from every angle.

“Nothing is off the table. We all know we have a problem with mental health in this country and our suicide rate is shameful. It is well past time for us to do something about it.

“Most of us will know a friend or whanau member who has faced a mental health challenge in their lives.

“Plenty have . . . received the support required, but too many still have unhappy stories to tell.”

Many of those stories were told in the Break The Silence series last year, which revealed that New Zealand had the worst teen suicide rate and second-worst youth suicide rate in the developed world.

The inquiry will report back at the end of October, in time to include any extra funding for Budget 2019.

“This is not about tinkering. There needs to be significant change,” Clark said. “All of us have heard stories about things that haven’t worked, so we know there needs to be change, and that may require resources.”

The inquiry, which will be chaired by former Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson, will focus on equity of access to quality services — including additional services.

It will travel the country and hear public and private submissions. Other members of the inquiry are: Dr Barbara Disley, former director of the Mental Health Foundation; chief executive of Emerge Aotearoa

Sir Mason Durie, an expert in Maori health and culture, who has served on health-related groups including the Mental Health Foundation.

Dean Rangihuna, who works as a forensic Maori consumer adviser for the Canterbury DHB.

Dr Jemaima Tiatia-Seath, acting co-head of the School of Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland, with experience in Pasifika mental health and suicide prevention.

Josiah Tualamali’i, who received the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Award for leadership and works at the University of Canterbury.

The inquiry, which will cost $6.5 million, will also inform the revival of the Mental Health Commission, which is part of the coalition agreement between Labour and NZ First.

The National Party’s spokesman for mental health, Matt Doocey, said it was time for action, not an inquiry.

He said the previous Government put an extra $100m into services based on evidence of what would have the most effect.

Clark said only some of the policies from the previous Government’s $100m towards mental health had been progressed. The present Government would keep any that had merit and ditch the rest.

Dave Macpherson, who has been calling for an inquiry since his son Nicky Stevens died while in care at Waikato’s Henry Bennett Centre in 2015, told the Herald the Government “was on the right track”.

“I think [it] is absolutely on the right track to have a broad-ranging inquiry and look at the reasons behind mental health [problems] and not just the services that are provided,” he said.

While he was happy an inquiry was happening he believed families of suicide victims and mental health patients should have been represented on the inquiry team.

Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson said the current system was not working.

“It’s very encouraging that the Government are committed to an integrated approach to promoting mental wellbeing, preventing mental health problems and responding to the needs to those people who are experiencing mental distress.

“It isn’t just about building more hospitals and specialist services. We need a focus on prevention [too].”