2 November 2016

More New Zealanders join the call for a mental health inquiry

A petition from Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust presented at Parliament today shows that more people are joining the call for a mental health inquiry, the Green Party said.

“Who else does the Minister of Health need to hear from to convince him that a nationwide mental health inquiry is desperately needed?” Green Party health spokesperson Julie Anne Genter said today.

“Time and time again, we have heard about the failings in our mental health system and why an inquiry is essential to fixing those issues – it’s time the Minister of Health Jonathan Coleman listened.

“The 579 Kiwis who tragically took their own lives last year, a record high, reflects the failings in our mental health system and should be evidence enough for the Minister.

“We owe it to all of those people and their loved ones to look at why the system isn’t reaching them, and a nationwide mental health inquiry is the best way to do that.

“The Green Party has already drafted suggested terms of reference for the mental health inquiry, now we need the Minister of Health to act.

“The slow erosion of the overall health budget by $1.7billion dollars since the National Government came to power is really hurting New Zealanders,” Ms Genter said.

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