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Mental health option could be added when people call 111, minister says (www.rnz.co.nz)

submitted 9 months ago by Dave to c/politics

6 comments fedilink hide all child comments

"I think it's very clear when you call 111 with a physical health crisis [currently] you get a health response. When you call 111 with a mental health crisis in New Zealand you get a criminal justice response.

"I think most people are saying it would be better if we had mental health professionals turning up to 111 calls when there is a mental health crisis response needed, and that's what I would support as the new mental health minister."

Where a person's life was at risk, police should be responding alongside mental health professionals, but a police presence would not be needed in every case, he said.

Doocey has requested that Health NZ, the police and the Ministry of Health look at a five-year rollout of a mental health co-response team programme.

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[–] liv 6 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

It's a good idea but we would have to first actually have mental health professionals who were available for that.

Big naive why-don't-they-eat-cake vibes from this, unless Doosey is about to ask for a multimillion dollar budget increase.

[–] Dave 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It mentions a successful trial in Wellington. I suspect this might be a "this is a great idea (but we aren't going to do it)" situation.

[–] liv 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Probably. I wonder what Welly's mental health stats are like and whether it would scale?

On one hand it's one of the two most affluent provinces in NZ. On the other hand anecdotally when I lived and worked there I had to refer so many people to counselling I got the impression it was disproportionately depressed.

[–] Dave 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I wonder what Welly’s mental health stats are like and whether it would scale?

It would probably involve taking those mental health workers from other areas, so would need a good assessment of where those people are best suited (proactive or reactive).

On one hand it’s one of the two most affluent provinces in NZ. On the other hand anecdotally when I lived and worked there I had to refer so many people to counselling I got the impression it was disproportionately depressed.

I had a bit of a look but failed to find any data broken down by region. Perhaps Wellingtonians are more likely to be able to afford counselling, so more likely to see it as an option for them?

[–] liv 2 points 9 months ago

Yeah I can't find it either, though my google fu is weak at the moment cos I'm on my phone.

I don't think they were necessarily seeking it more than others, more it was occurring to me as the right option for them.