Nurture young people’s mental health earlier

NZPsS and NZEI Joint Media Release

29 January 2018 - For immediate release

Nurture young people’s mental health earlier, say education groups

The number of educational psychologists employed in the public sector needs to double if the Government is to meet its goal of improving the mental health of young people, education groups say.

Half of all lifetime cases of mental disorder start before the age of 14.

Psychological health needs to be nurtured in young people from an early age. This involves all the people who are significant in children’s lives such as parents, whānau, schools, and others in the community, says a New Zealand education group.

Quentin Abraham (President of the New Zealand Psychological Society, NZPsS) and Michele Blick (Chair of the Institute of Developmental and Educational Psychology, (IEDP) Paul Goulter (National Secretary, New Zealand Education Institute, NZEI), Bella Pardoe (Executive Officer, NZEI) met this week to discuss ways that educational psychologists can support young people in schools.

The groups agreed that the educational psychology workforce needs urgent attention. Mr Goulter reported that “principals and teachers are crying out for help with young people with mental health difficulties.”

Government advisers agree that schools and early childhood centres are vital to ensure young people have a ‘good start’ and develop resilience to difficulties in later life.

Mr Abraham meets regularly with the Ministry of Education to discuss the need to increase the number of educational psychologists.

Under the previous National Government, a cap on staffing in the state sector led to a nine-year freeze on the number of specialist staff. The freeze, which included psychologists employed by the Ministry of Education, was implemented despite more children presenting with more complex needs. The Ministry currently employs 172 full-time-equivalent psychologists. It has been estimated that NZ needs to double that number to meet its needs and provide an equivalent standard of care to Scotland, which has a similar population.

“Psychologists not only need to be on hand when there is a crisis but also available to help schools develop their skills and resilience in these situations. Prevention and early intervention is beneficial and cost effective. Educational psychologists have skills to help schools prevent mental health difficulties develop,” he comments.

Minister Phil Twyford acknowledged in the media recently that the mental health system is a ‘mess’ (in terms of timely access to services). He says his government is committed to listening to experts and properly resourcing mental health.

NZPsS and NZEI say they will collaborate to make recommendations to the government’s Mental Health Inquiry and other practical interim measures.

References:

Gluckman, P. (2017). Rethinking New Zealand's Approach to Mental Health and Mental Disorder: a whole-of-government, whole-of-nation long-term commitment. Retrieved fromhttp://www.pmcsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/17-08-14-Mental-health-short.pdf

OIA and DIA. (2018, 23 January). Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction – Draft Terms of Reference. Retrieved from https://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/Files/Government-Inquiry-into-Mental-Health-and-Addiction/$file/Inquiry-into-Mental-Health-and-Addiction-Terms-of-Reference.pdf

Satherly, D. (2018, 26 January). Mental health plan needed before funding can increase - Twyford. Retrieved from http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/health/2018/01/mental-health-plan-needed-before-funding-can-increase-twyford.html

Blick, M. (2017). Briefing to the Incoming Minister of Education 2017 On behalf of The New Zealand Psychological Society, Institute of Educational and Developmental Psychology. Retrieved fromhttp://www.psychology.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/Briefing-to-the-Minister-of-Education-Dec-2017_.pdf

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