Researchers recommend enhanced mental health crisis options

New ways of helping people faced with a mental health crisis need to be explored, University of Otago research says.

Police and hospital emergency departments were usually the first services called upon to deal with a person in  need of treatment for a mental health issue, but often did not have the resources or training to offer appropriate help, the report, prepared by a team of Otago researchers, said.

It has been compiled  to assist the Government’s inquiry into mental health and addiction services.

"Crisis services are another key area where New Zealand mental health services have been found wanting,"  the report said.

"Different models of crisis care, including peer-led models and community respite may present a better solution that the current use of the emergency department and inpatient admissions."

Police estimate they deal with more than 100 mental health callouts nationally, every day.

The research said crisis services needed to be fit for purpose, and offer informed and well-trained care across a range of mental health issues.

"Crisis services are the visible coal face of the mental health and addiction system, and are the first to become pressured when services are in high demand, often due to workforce issues and the limiting of services further down the chain.

"Alternative models to the existing police/emergency department model need to be investigated," researchers said in  the report.

Many of the researcher’s conclusions echoed recommendations in the Ministry of Health’s draft suicide prevention strategy, which called for better training on suicide issues in sectors including  police, education, health and the  wider justice and social sectors.

The mental health inquiry report was released in December, and its recommendations included that when people were seriously distressed and needed immediate support, they would receive an immediate response from "services led by caring, competent and skilled health, peer and cultural workers".

It also recommended all emergency departments should have access to skilled mental health workers, and that police would be well trained to support mental health immediate response teams.

The Government’s formal response to the report is due to be delivered in March.

mike.houlahan@odt.co.nz  

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