The Christchurch earthquakes and their aftermath have been incredibly stressful for many, including the young. This contributes to Christchurch’s worrying level of mental health problems and the huge stress on the city’s underfunded mental health services.
The Nats made big promises to Christchurch:
This devastating event marks the beginning of a long journey for your city.
It will be a journey that leads us from ruins and despair to hope and new opportunities. From great hardship will come great strength.
It will be a difficult journey, but progress is certain, things will get better, Christchurch will rise again.
On behalf of the Government, let me be clear that no one will be left to walk this journey alone.
New Zealand will walk this journey with you. We will be there every step of the way.
Christchurch; this is not your test, this is New Zealand’s test.
I promise we will meet this test.
Fine words.
Empty words.
‘Cruel’ ministry rejects Canterbury’s ‘urgent’ mental health funding plea
The Government has rejected an “urgent” request for millions of dollars of additional mental health funding for Canterbury.
A Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) member has labelled the rejection “brutal, cruel, unfair and wrong” and warns mental health staff are under such pressure that “we’re heading towards a service failure”.
…
CDHB board member Jo Kane said she was deeply worried about the state of Canterbury’s mental health services.“They’re doing an outstanding job under extreme pressure, but if we continue this way, we’re heading towards a service failure.
“People aren’t able to access the services and aren’t able to get help. This will result in harm to themselves and harm to the community.”
Chuah calling the urgent plea for help “inappropriate” was “seriously offensive to the people of Canterbury”, she said.
She believed his response was the latest in a long line of “brutal, cruel, unfair and wrong” dealings with the CDHB. …
In other news, Canterbury records most suicides in New Zealand and Suicide toll reaches highest rate since records kept.
Such a proud achievement National, you’re really delivering for Canterbury.
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