Monday, June 06, 2005

Mental health crisis? Form a committee (New Zealand) Story at Stuff - "Capital and Coast District Health Board has debated a draft five-year mental health consultation plan that recommended more staff, more services, a major shift in focus from crisis services to early intervention, and "a district mental health development group" to oversee the changes. Even board members winced at the thought of yet another committee in a sector already bogged down by bureaucracy. 'To come to the conclusion that the answer is another committee is disappointing,' board member Judith Aitken said. The recommendation for a new overseeing group was eventually watered down to an 'inclusive mechanism'. The five-year plan, dubbed 'The Journey Forward', provided solid suggestions of how best to improve mental health services, but avoided the tough questions - when, how much and where does the money come from? However, a board spokeswoman said there was new money available to fund the changes. "