My Account
Dr Peter Hall
About 15 percent of my consultations have a mental health component, including drug and alcohol issues. This is a very significant figure as it indicates a high level of emotional stress and distress in our society. Only a small portion of these cases can be dealt with in the public system so it falls back on to primary health care, community groups, families, schools and social services to bear the burden.
Sometimes these sectors feel overwhelmed by it. Teachers want to teach, but they are increasingly being asked to manage complex psychosocial problems. Charitable organisations often have uncertain funding or are swamped by demand. Doctors have experience and training, but struggle with time constraints.
GP’s continue to walk through life with families, offering as much support as we can, but we would really like to have more resources to offer. Clearly this is a situation where medication is only part of the answer, though in some ways it is the easiest thing to do. We are well aware that human beings are not just bags of chemicals and a truly holistic response is called for.
And even when there are services available, financial, transport or other issues may make it difficult for clients to access them.
However, there is some good news. We have come a long way since mental illness was a shameful thing, to be whispered about and hidden away. The support of well known people, such as John Kirwan and Mike King, and the educational efforts of The Mental Health Foundation (which has a particularly good website) have wrought a dramatic social change. I take my hat off to them.
I saw the effect of this recently when a young friend was quite comfortable to share his challenges with anxiety as part of a speech at his birthday. It was inspiring.
Also, technology has turned out to be our friend in this area. Face to face counselling is fantastic but there are now online options for cognitive behavioural therapy, such as www.beatingtheblues.co.nz. Accessing this kind of support in the privacy of your own home has obvious appeal.
And the development of community NGO’s has changed the landscape. I’ve been impressed with the work of Equip (www.equip.net.nz) and Connect Supporting recovery (www.connectsr.org.nz) who bring ongoing professional support to patients living with mental illness.
It’s also good to hear that the Ministry of Social Development has given a contract to In-Work NZ Ltd, specifically to facilitate employment for mental health clients.
