The record-high provisional annual suicide statistics released today by the Chief Coroner shows why the Government should urgently initiate a nationwide mental health inquiry, the Green Party said today. 579 people died by suicide in the 2015/16 year, which is the highest number of suicide deaths since provisional statistics were first recorded by the Coroner’s Office in 2007/08. “The number of Kiwis who are tragically taking their own lives reflects the failings in our mental health system,” Green Party health...

More and more New Zealand children are being hospitalised for tooth decay issues, and the Government needs to implement a sugary drinks tax to help turn this around, the Green Party said today. Ministry of Health figures show the rate of hospitalisation for dental caries (or basic tooth decay) for young people has increased 13 per cent from 2008-09 to 2013-14. 6471 young people were hospitalised for tooth decay in 2012-14. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out...

New Zealanders’ health is being put at risk by a chemical in commonly used weedkillers that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn’t even require companies to publicly disclose is in its compounds, the Green Party said today. At least 89 herbicide and pesticide products in New Zealand, including products commonly found in many Kiwi garden sheds, contain polyoxyethylene tallow amine (POEA), which has been named in today’s Pesticide Action Network monograph as having serious health effects. The EU Commission has also...

The Green Party is today releasing its Medically-Assisted Dying policy. “Adults with a terminal illness should have the right to choose a medically assisted death,” Green Party health spokesperson Kevin Hague said.  “The Green Party does not support extending assisted dying to people who aren't terminally ill because we can’t be confident that this won't further marginalise the lives of people with disabilities. “This policy outlines the medical and ethical safeguards that need to be put in place to ensure...

New research looking into senior doctors’ and dentists’ work-related burnout raises significant concerns about the state of our health system, the Green Party said today. The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists’ report released today reveals that half of senior doctors have symptoms of burnout, with working more than 14 consecutive hours being significantly associated with higher work-related burnout. “Our senior doctors are propping up our health system at the expense of their own wellbeing,” Green Party health spokesperson Kevin Hague...

The Health Minister must urgently launch an inquiry into mental health services, after serious issues with the standard of care at mental health and disability facilities around the country were revealed today, the Green Party said. A NZ Herald investigation of more than 60 Crimes of Torture reports show repeated basic breaches of patients’ rights, such as access to fresh air, water, or meaningful interaction. It also identifies systemic, recurrent problems across all District Health Boards (DHBs), including understaffing and...

Revelations that Lifeline Aotearoa has only enough money to run for one more year are another blow to our already strained mental health system, the Green Party said today. Lifeline Aotearoa provides free 24/7 mental health assistance through phone lines 0800 Lifeline, 0508 Tautoko (specialised suicide crisis line), and 0800 Kidsline (for those aged under 18). “A strained mental health system has already been palming people off onto these 0800 numbers, and if Lifeline services go under, then New Zealanders...

The Health Minister needs to urgently undertake an inquiry into mental health services, after new figures have revealed that young people are facing unreasonably long waiting times to receive the help they need, the Green Party said today. Thirty percent of young people who seek help for mental health issues have to wait longer than three weeks to see a mental health provider, and of those, 1337 young people had to wait longer than eight weeks in 2015/2016. The figures,...

The Green Party is reiterating its call for Health Minister Jonathan Coleman to urgently undertake an inquiry into mental health services, or risk more people needlessly suffering and dying because of inadequate care and oversight. The call comes after the release of a damning ombudsman’s report into the treatment of Ashley Peacock, and after the mother of Wellington man Samuel Fischer has spoken out about issues with the care her son received from Capital and Coast District Health Board leading...

Will he now use his power under section 32 of the Public Health and Disability Act 2000 to direct Capital and Coast District Health Board to initiate the transitional support plan for Ashley Peacock, which recommends a pathway to a community placement, immediately; if not, why not?