Members of the PSA Mental Health Committee from around New Zealand have been meeting in Wellington today to review PSA
members’ feedback about recommendations for change in the Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry report delivered to
Government in November.
"After holding a round of regional forums around the country we have strong feedback from PSA members that the report
was too light on the fundamental need to support a robust mental health and addiction workforce given we are
experiencing a significant workforce crisis," say PSA Mental Health Committee convenor Andy Colwell.
"The PSA Mental Health Committee have been meeting today with the Ministry of Health’s Deputy Director General Mental
Health and Addiction Robyn Shearer to ensure that this concern about addressing workforce issues and needs is heard loud
and clear.
"While our regional forums in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Nelson and Christchurch, as well as an online survey, were
generally positive that the areas identified for change cover the right bases, our members also warned that the
government’s response to the Inquiry report will fall short of the mark if it doesn’t address workforce issues and
needs.
"In particular chronic workforce shortages will only get worse without more resourcing and a substantial, urgent
investment in people and improved facilities.
"Of equal concern is the dangerous levels of risk that mental health and addiction workers are continuing to be exposed
to every day.
"Since the Inquiry report was received by Health Minister David Clark the incidence of serious health and safety
incidents impacting on the mental health workforce has been making headlines on an almost weekly basis and can’t be
allowed to continue.
"We want to see specific attention to address those risks, along with improved training and specialisation.
"Now is the time for the Government to be bold in delivering long-overdue changes to truly transform the mental health
system. It has been left to languish, to the detriment of the wellbeing of all New Zealanders, for far too long".