For Mental health support call :
Government Inquiry panel to visit Tauranga
The Government ’ s Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction will hold a public meeting in Tauranga on Monday 11 June , 2018 at the Historic Village , from 5.30pm to 7.30pm .
The Inquiry panel wants to hear from people about their views on the mental health and addiction services .
The Inquiry panel was set-up by the New Zealand Government in response to widespread concern about mental health and addiction services , and appointed a six members panel , all with extensive backgrounds in the mental health and addiction sector . They are Professor Paterson ( chair ), Dr Barbara Disley , Sir Mason Durie , Dean Rangihuna , Dr Jemaima Tiatia-Seath and Josiah Tualamali ’ i .
The Inquiry panel will be speaking to mental health and addiction service providers , and would like to listen to the views of consumers , whānau and the general public .
“ We want to build on the good work that is already being done , while looking to system-level change that will improve both promotion of good mental health and support for people
with mental health challenges and / or addictions .”
“ In short , we want to generate hope and set a clear direction for the next five to ten years that Government , the mental health and addiction sectors , and the broader community can pick up and implement – to make real , positive change ,” Professor Paterson said .
The panel will meet with whānau and communities , individuals who access services , providers , representative organisations , advocates , sector groups and experts where they can .
You can keep up to date with the panels ’ journey around Aotearoa on the Mental Health Inquiry Facebook page .
Have your Say
https :// www . mentalhealth . inquiry . govt . nz /
• Online on the Inquiry panel ’ s website
• By phone ( 0800 644 678 ) between 9:30am and 5:30pm Monday to Friday ,
• By email mentalhealth @ inquiry . govt . nz
• By attending a public meeting . Submissions close on 5pm , 5 June 2018 .
Respite house giving youth hope of a brighter future
18-year-old Claudia * is one of the Bay ’ s young people benefiting from a new respite house for those experiencing mental distress .
Claudia has been struggling with an eating disorder in recent years and having been referred to Real youth services , which runs the respite house in Tauranga , has stayed twice in the last few months .
“ It ’ s like a home and there are always people around who understand and care ,” says Claudia . “ Plus , it ’ s so much better than having to go to hospital when you ’ re having a tough time , and not too far for my mum to visit me .”
The house is designed as a homely and welcoming environment and , on the day we visited , Claudia was engrossed in designing and painting inspirational rocks for the garden and had spent the morning with her youth worker at the Historic Village .
“ Going out with the youth workers is awesome ,” says Claudia . “ It ’ s nice to get fresh air and do something different to what I ’ d do at home , with new friends . And it ’ s a good distraction from my eating disorder .”
The service , which has been operating since September 2017 , offers a positive and relaxed environment where 12 to 18-year olds can go to focus on their wellness , with 24 / 7 support from clinical staff and youth workers .
“ Early intervention is key for young people in our community ” says Real team coach and registered nurse , Danica Thompson .
The respite service is available both in crisis situations and for planned stays . How long people stay is based on their individual needs .
Another 17-year-old female stayed with Real recently who had stopped taking her medication for bipolar and needed some extra support to help get her back on track .
The Real team supported her to improve her sleeping , develop healthy eating patterns and re-establish good routines around her medication . Within a week she was able to return home to her family in a much more positive headspace .
“ The respite house is regularly occupied and is a service that has been well received by clinicians and families alike ,” says Registered Social Worker and Youth AOD ( Alcohol and Other Drugs ) Coordinator Caleb Putt . “ We ’ re grateful for this option in our continuum of care for young people with often complex needs .
“ A lot of learning has occurred during the last nine months and we anticipate a continued close and effective working relationship now and into the future , with better outcomes for young people and families hopefully the result .”
Young people must be clients of MICAMHS ( Maternal Infant Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services ) and Voyagers ( Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service ) to be placed at the respite house .
Young people are supported in a homely environment at the Tauranga based Real respite facility .
For Mental health support call :
• The Mental Health Crisis line on 0800 774 545 .
• For Tauranga and Western Bay youth ( 0-18 years ) call 0800 333 061 .
• For Youth Alcohol & Drug issues call Sorted on 0800 BAYSORT ( 0800 229 7678 ).
Improving our health services
Latest feedback from patients on health services provided by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board shows an increase in those saying they are ‘ completely satisfied ’ with their care ’.
As part of on-going work to improve the quality of health services provided across our communities , the DHB has surveyed patients and its staff .
It ’ s the second survey of its kind , the previous occurred 12 month prior giving the DHB the opportunity to compare results .
Programme Leader Rosalind Jackson says , “ Research shows there is a clear relationship between the wellbeing of staff and patient wellbeing . And when patients report a better experience of care they also have better outcomes ; shorter length of stay and faster recovery .”
241 patients participated in the latest survey compared to 289 previously . In both surveys 71 % of our patients were either satisfied or completely satisfied with their care . What was heartening to see was that 57 % reported they were now completely satisfied with their care , up from 40 % a year ago .
Patients tell us we have improved in some important areas : being able to use their own experience to aid their recovery ; staff praising their efforts to help themselves get better ; they are more confident and optimistic ; and less scared .
Rosalind says the feedback also shows us we need to continue work on improving the way we care and listen to our patients and involve them in treatment decisions .
More than a thousand staff also provided feedback . She says overall the results show good progress since the previous staff survey , for example recognition of our CARE values and behaviours expected of staff and different teams and services working well together .