Health review illuminating

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

On Thursday night I attended a wonderful example of testimony and attentive listening at the Government’s Mental Health and Addiction review at a Hastings conference centre.

Due to report back on October 31, the six-person panel is presently touring the country hearing views on the present system and how it can be improved.

It wasn’t widely advertised and wasn’t attended by a wide selection of DHB management but the witness of a crosssection of former patients, workers in the field, parents and children looking after ill children or parents was inspiring. Everyone had something to offer, with many poignant and insightful backstories of volunteer service or struggles to regain health.

A group from Raupunga told of the scourge of P in their community and ravages worsened by unemployment, addiction and isolation from treatment facilities.

We heard that battles with bureaucracy, lack of adequate and humane treatment facilities and systematic underfunding could often be as bad as those with the mental illness itself.

The many moving stories certainly gave the impression this has been a neglected sector for many years — and, despite some naysayers, that this review process is well worth the time and money spent on it. Today, “The party’s over”, the Westpac economist babbled on with the usual rhetoric about the sky falling down. The truth is that everywhere you look, business is buoyant.

There is growth throughout New Zealand and urban, commercial, industrial and horticultural growth is visible everywhere you look in the Hawke’s Bay.

Sure, the economy could go into meltdown by forces beyond our control but if you read Mr Stephens’ commentary, it is full of “my view is”, “we’re probably”, “he believed”, “may slow”, “could be”, ad infinitum.

In reality, if we took the positive approach, we probably will grow, we believe we will see a better economy, house prices will continue to grow etc.

Reading the competing banks’ positive comments, the ASB report says our housing market is still strong, annual job growth was robust and returns from horticulture, forestry and sheep returns are robust.

When there are more jobs than people, when businesses are recording a great start to the financial year, we really don’t need doom and gloom merchants to rain on our parade. Stay positive, and we will continue to grow.