Long wait to see psychologists

WELLINGTON: The huge demand for youth services is causing long waits for patients, with some practices even being forced to turn new clients away, says the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists.

The organisation (NZCCP) said not enough psychologists were being trained to meet the growing need.

Lena Watt was 16 when her mother took her to a GP because she was worried about her mental health.

She said she was at ‘‘a crisis point’’ and was selfharming.

The month and ahalf she spent waiting to see a specialist was a very difficult time.

‘‘My mum obviously had no experience or training with this kind of thing.’’

Her mother eventually set her up with a private psychologist, which — while helpful — was expensive.

Concerned for those unable to pay to get the help they need, Ms Watt and her mother decided to walk the length of New Zealand to raise money for youth mental health charity I Am Hope.

She now works parttime for the organisation.

NZCCP executive adviser Paul Skirrow said stories like Lena’s were all too common.

‘‘We’re hearing stories of long waiting lists and in some cases waiting lists being closed for child and adolescent mental health services . . . ’’

The conditions which people were waiting weeks or months to get treatment for were often very serious.

‘‘Something that’s lifethreatening where somebody’s suicidal, being told that, ‘well, there’s no service for you’ just is absolutely heartbreaking.’’

There had been a worldwide spike in demand for psychological services in part due to the Covid19 pandemic, economic uncertainty and the climate crisis, Dr Skirrow said.

New Zealand was not training enough psychologists to keep up, he said.

In the past, people could reliably see a private psychologist if they had the money, but now waiting lists for these practices were backed up too.

Te Whatu Ora mental health service executive clinical director Paul Oxnam said it offered multidisciplinary teams, including psychologists, and because of this, it had no psychologyspecific wait lists.

When a person was referred to a service, they were triaged, and people who needed acute care were always prioritised and seen urgently.

None of their child or adolescent teams had closed their waiting lists at this time, he said.