City may get mental health ‘first aid’ plan
‘‘It starts with knowing your neighbour.’’ Youth mental health advocate Dr Sue Bagshaw
A city-led approach to mental health and wellbeing has been mooted for Christchurch.
Inspired by the ‘‘thrive’’ approach adopted by cities around the world, including New York City and London, Thrive Christchurch would seek to reduce stigma and develop collaboration.
Aspirational goals could include a city without homelessness, a city free from mental health stigma and discrimination, a zero suicide city, and a city that maximised the potential of children and young people.
The idea was pitched by the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) in its submission to the Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry, released to The Press under the Official Information Act.
‘‘We believe a region-wide focus on supporting mental health and wellbeing could reduce and prevent mental health issues in the future and improve the wellbeing and resilience of individuals and communities,’’ the submission said.
The approach would be jointly led by the CDHB, Christchurch City Council and Nga¯ i Tahu, the document suggested.
It would also seek input from all parties to develop a co-ordinated strategy to improve mental health and wellbeing.
New York City introduced its thrive programme in 2015. Comprised of 54 initiatives, the plan included training 250,000 residents in ‘‘mental health first aid’’ to help people recognise symptoms, listen to and help others.
It aimed to close the treatment gap by providing greater access to care, improve social and emotional education for children and put in place public awareness campaigns focusing on mental health promotion and early intervention.
The CDHB made its submission in May, but was still keen to develop a collaborative, city-led model, specialist mental health services general manager Toni Gutschlag said. ‘‘While we remain enthusiastic and supportive, the challenge to advance the initiative is leadership and resourcing and our resources are very constrained at present.’’
The CDHB has had to devote additional money above and beyond ring-fenced mental health expenditure to cope with postquake demand for services.
‘‘We remain keen to progress this initiative and will continue to explore ways to do this with like-minded Christchurch leaders,’’ Gutschlag said.
Christchurch City Council councillors Deon Swiggs, Aaron Keown and Vicki Buck all expressed interest in the idea when approached by The Press, but had not received any formal proposal.
Keown said training people in ‘‘mental health first aid’’ could lead to significant improvement in Canterbury.
‘‘There’s still tonnes of stigma attached to mental health, and we don’t treat it like general health,’’ he said.
Dr Sue Bagshaw, a youth mental health advocate, said the benefits of a communitywide approach had been well demonstrated.
‘‘It starts with knowing your neighbour,’’ she said.
About one in five New Zealanders experience mental illness or significant mental distress each year, according to the Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry report released last month.
However, access to specialist services is limited to about 3 per cent of the population. The report recommended extending access to the ‘‘missing middle’’ and funding an increased range of therapies.
It also emphasised a shift to community-based mental health and addiction services, and recommended increased support for NGOs and more preventative actions.