After a series of vicious cuts to mental health services, Cantabrians will be welcoming news of additional government investment – but the PSA says regular reviews are now needed.
The government’s announced an extra $20 million in funding over the next three years, with an additional 27 primary care and community-based mental health workers.
The Public Service Association, the union for mental health workers, is pleased at the news, which should help redress the funding cuts revealed earlier this year.
But National Secretary Erin Polaczuk says the additional funding must be frequently reviewed, to ensure it keeps pace with demand.
“We’ve also expressed concern about the workloads faced by some of our members, especially since some are still taking care of their own mental health, trauma to their families and repairs to their homes.
“Minister Coleman’s quoted international research which says psychosocial recovery after a major disaster can take 5 to 10 years.
“But he’s failing to acknowledge ongoing quakes in Christchurch, like the one on Valentine’s Day this year, which retraumatise those who were recovering.
“We hope this will be the first of regular reviews of the adequacy of funding for these services – and that future assessments will be based on demand, not the amount of money left in the pot.”
Whoop de f…n doo!
National guts the mental health budget for Canterbury, then grudgingly restores a small part of it.
I suppose they expect us to fall down on our knees with gratitude.
What is it going to be spend on? More managers, meetings etc. without actually addressing what really matters in mental health. Decisions made without staff input contributing to an increasingly unsafe environment in the patient units for patients and staff alike. After working in this field for many years I am more and more disappointed in a management that only seems to focus on what is in their own interest.
Yes it’s a pity the article didn’t stipulate the $ amount is the series of cuts prior to this ” extra $20 million over three years”. It makes the Government look half decent in the eyes of the minions who vote for it because they missed that bit where they cut the budget a month before this announcement http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/296846/chch-mental-health-cuts-'put-lives-at-risk‘
PTSD is a bit like Altitude Sickness it doesn’t go away that easily and can manifest at any time.
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