Mental health services still need improving

A review of South Canterbury District Health Board's mental health services shows it has significantly improved in some areas, while others require more work.

The review was undertaken by the Mental Health Commission late last year, and it initially indicated that the district would struggle to provide services for an ageing population.

At the time of the review, South Canterbury District Health Board chief executive Chris Fleming said feedback from the commission suggested that the district could struggle as an ageing population became reliant on mental health services.

"The growing mental health needs of the ageing South Canterbury population is considered a challenge, although the [commission] was very interested to note the board's recent commitment to a centre of excellence for older people, and encouraged SCDHB to include mental health on the development agenda as well," he said late last year.

The report noted seven areas that were a challenge to the District Health Board, including the need to increase professional supervision for staff, and closer relationships between mental health and addiction services and primary care providers, and also between the services and schools.

Concern was also raised about the challenges of supporting service users with dual diagnoses, in particular those with an intellectual disability and the problems of integrating care across sectors.

However, the commission noted that the problem was nationwide.

The DHB is required to report back to the commission in June on its progress.

Mr Fleming said the commission's review delivered no surprises and it reflected the challenges recognised as areas for improvement.

"More importantly it delivered a strong endorsement of the current direction of the MHS [mental health service] in South Canterbury and the work of all the teams involved in this specialist area of service provided by the DHB and NGOs [non-government organisations] alike."

The commission noted "positive improvement" had been made in nine areas since its last review in 2009.

People who had benefited from the improvements to mental health services included those requiring immediate assessments, Maori youth, families and people at risk of suicide.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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