Mental Health Bill welcomed but more funding needed: NZCCSS

Catholic Social Services is one of six foundation members of the Council.  

NZCCSS made a submission on The Mental Health Bill, which is before Parliament’s Health Committee.

The bill would repeal and replace the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992.

Among the provisions of the bill are the establishment of principles to guide decision-making about compulsory care, enabling patients to express their preferences and specify what care they agree to, the establishment of a complaints process and a reduction in restrictive practices such as seclusion.

In its submission, the NZCCSS applauded the level of consultation that has been undertaken in the design of the new legislation, and supported its foundation in evidence-based practice.

But “without a substantial increase in funding to cover staffing and facility upgrades, the ability for the sector to implement proposed changes will be significantly impacted”, the submission stated.

“Reports of understaffing are common in mental health wards throughout Aotearoa, with some, such as the Tane Whakapiripiri ward in Waitematā, reporting operating understaffed for more than 90 per cent of shifts.”

Many wards report large numbers of their staff working overtime, and there is a current recruitment pause.

“Such use of overtime is not only unsustainable in the long run, but research also indicates that working sustained overtime in the mental health sector can have a significant, negative impact on the quality of care that patients receive,” the NZCCSS submission stated.

The submission added that there is a further need to increase funding for mental health facilities.

“Current reports indicate acute mental facilities are often at capacity, limiting people’s ability to access services when they are needed.”

Other areas of concern raised in the submission covered the need for proactive cross-approaches to improve mental health and wellbeing, strengthening the rights of children and young people, the need for continued consultation with tangata whenua, and the extent of limits on compulsory treatment practices when all other avenues are exhausted.

FULL STORY

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