MHF welcomes Mental Health Commission
25 Oct, 2017
The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) welcomes the Government’s announcement it will re-establish a Mental Health Commission to independently monitor mental health services.“It’s incredibly important that there’s independent oversight of how money is spent to ensure the needs of mental health consumers are met,” MHF Chief Executive Shaun Robinson says.For a long time the MHF, along with many other organisations in the sector, has advocated for a Mental Health Commission.“This is a great first step to ensure all New Zealanders can access the help and care that they deserve,” Mr Robinson says.“The former Mental Health Commission challenged the whole sector to deliver more and to do better. It monitored and reviewed DHB’s mental health plans, their spending and performance. As a result, the sector took responsibility for improving the level of care available, and it strengthened the voices of people who use mental health services, as well as their whanau.“When the Mental Health Commission was first established in the late 1990s it was part of a Blueprint for Mental Health which mapped out how the mental health and wellbeing of New Zealanders would be improved. That Blueprint has run out and the resources have been turned off. With the re-established Commission we urgently need a new Blueprint; a plan for mental health and wellbeing that takes us all forward to 2027 with adequate resources and innovation. We look forward to the new Government taking up that challenge soon,” Mr Robinson says.
For further information or comment, please contact:
Sophie LowerySenior Communications & Marketing Officer09 623 4810022 1319982sophie.lowery@mentalhealth.org.nz
25 Oct, 2017
The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) welcomes the Government’s announcement it will re-establish a Mental Health Commission to independently monitor mental health services.“It’s incredibly important that there’s independent oversight of how money is spent to ensure the needs of mental health consumers are met,” MHF Chief Executive Shaun Robinson says.For a long time the MHF, along with many other organisations in the sector, has advocated for a Mental Health Commission.“This is a great first step to ensure all New Zealanders can access the help and care that they deserve,” Mr Robinson says.“The former Mental Health Commission challenged the whole sector to deliver more and to do better. It monitored and reviewed DHB’s mental health plans, their spending and performance. As a result, the sector took responsibility for improving the level of care available, and it strengthened the voices of people who use mental health services, as well as their whanau.“When the Mental Health Commission was first established in the late 1990s it was part of a Blueprint for Mental Health which mapped out how the mental health and wellbeing of New Zealanders would be improved. That Blueprint has run out and the resources have been turned off. With the re-established Commission we urgently need a new Blueprint; a plan for mental health and wellbeing that takes us all forward to 2027 with adequate resources and innovation. We look forward to the new Government taking up that challenge soon,” Mr Robinson says.
For further information or comment, please contact:
Sophie LowerySenior Communications & Marketing Officer09 623 4810022 1319982sophie.lowery@mentalhealth.org.nz