Ross sent to mental health facility
Jami-Lee Ross has been “sectioned” to an Auckland mental health facility, following a tumultuous week in which he traded insults and allegations with the National Party and came clean to his wife about extra-marital affairs.
Ross was taken in by police yesterday, and a source close to him told the Herald he was “not in good shape” and “had been sectioned . . . people who go willingly aren’t sectioned”.
“He feels terribly alone. He hasn’t been home,” the source said.
Under the Mental Health Act, a person can be sectioned to a safe place against their will and treated if their safety is considered at risk.
It follows a week of unprecedented political turbulence in which Ross, a former member of the National caucus’ senior team, quit the National Party, was expelled from caucus, traded insults and accusations with leader Simon Bridges and deputy Paula Bennett, and admitted to extramarital affairs that have rocked his marriage to Lucy Schwaner, with whom he has two children.
It is understood National is continuing to offer Ross support, though it is unclear it if was involved in his admission to the facility. “Over the past several weeks the National Party has taken seriously the mental health concerns raised by Mr Ross and the medical professionals he has been involved with,” a party spokesperson said.
“That has included seeking advice from medical professionals and involving police wherever necessary to ensure support is made available to Mr Ross.”
But the source told the Herald that the National Party was warned about pushing Ross too far on Monday, when Bridges and Bennett met Ross about the PwC inquiry into Bridges’ leaked travel expenses.
Concerns were raised about Ross’ mental health three weeks ago, when he took leave from Parliament for “personal health issues” and later said he had a mental breakdown over being accused of inappropriate behaviour towards women.
Ross’ doctors were in contact with Bridges and Bennett and, the source said, “were told if any more pressure or stress was headed his way, there was a real likelihood of this incident [being sectioned] occurring”.
“Two weeks later, when they confronted him about the report of the leak, the medical advice was reiterated. And they said they were going to release the information in half an hour.”
A National Party spokesman last night said: “Mr Ross’ mental health has been taken seriously throughout this process, including seeking advice from his medical specialists.”
In the weeks after Ross’ leave but before last week, it is understood his doctors told the National leadership team that Ross was doing better and could return to work.
Last week, as Ross fronted media, he repeatedly said he was healthy, even after six women spoke to Newsroom about what they called bullying and intimidating behaviour from him.
Ross disagreed with the way the women portrayed him in the media, but admitted to extra-marital affairs and said he had apologised to his wife.
Asked in his last media interview on Friday about mental health issues, Ross said: “I’m okay right now.”
National Party pollster and Kiwiblogger David Farrar said Ross had obviously been under “huge stress” as events had escalated last week.
Farrar said the fact women spoke out and accused Ross of intimidating and bullying behaviour would have exacerbated an already difficult situation.