The Government's newly announced mental health inquiry may be tackling too much in too short a time, a leading academic fears.
''I think it is an ambitious timeframe for an inquiry of such scope,'' Prof Sunny Collings, director of the Suicide and Mental Health Research Group, said.
''They will need to develop some focus areas otherwise they are not going to be able to do it in the time.''
The inquiry, to be chaired by former Health and Disability Commissioner Ron Paterson, is due to report back to the Government in October.
Its terms of reference are deliberately broad, although the six-person panel has specifically been asked to look at addiction issues as well.
The inquiry panel members will be assisted by two advisory panels, one of mental health consumers, the other a youth panel.
To achieve real change, the inquiry would need to gain in-depth information and test new ideas rapidly, Prof Collings, from the University of Otago, Wellington, said.
''It needs to be very clear what the end point for the inquiry is, and the quality of the analysis will be critical because it is very easy to generate unintended consequences in a very complicated area like this.''
Prof Collings said the short timeframe meant the inquiry needed to focus on solutions to known issues.
''Otherwise they will only come up with a list of problems. They will have spent all their money and not have time left over for specific suggestions.''
Prof Collings said the Government needed to continue to invest in services which were working, but have the courage to abandon initiatives which were not.
''That's one thing we are not particularly good at, stopping investing in things ... we have to work out different ways of doing things or we will get the same old results.''
Local mental health providers spoken to by the Otago Daily Times said they were not looking for more funding.
''More money is not the answer. There are vast resources in the mental health services,'' Kerry Hand, manager of mental health agency Miramare, said.
''For example, the Southern DHB supports about 900 staff across all the mental health services in its area.
''Given that's a population of approximately 300,000, that's one full-time worker for every 300 persons in Southern's area. I think that is a generous resource.''
Otago Mental Health Support Trust chief executive Greg Cooper agreed, saying a far broader approach was needed to improving mental health provision.
''Just saying more money for mental health, that ticks it, that's not enough ... mental health is linked in with everything, for example having safe, warm accommodation, gainful employment and meaningful relationships. It's about the wider community we live in.
''To my mind we need some new, creative ways of doing things, because if our services were all going so well why are so many negative statistics coming through ... it's not just about getting the best service when people become unwell, which is obviously important, but all those things beforehand as well.''
Mr Hand said mental health services had not adapted and were mismatched to community needs.
Where to get help in NZ
Suicide/depression related
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Lifeline Aotearoa: 0800 543 354
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
Samaritans: 0800 726 666
Alcohol Drug Helpline: 0800 787 797
General mental health inquiries: 0800 44 33 66
The Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757
