Who sings road to nowhere4/10/2023 ![]() At the moment it feels like we’re in the dark on a road to nowhere. Laying out a roadmap for change would provide vision, show leadership and perhaps allow us to hope again. The government should at least tell the public if and how it plans to implement the recommendations the He Ara Oranga report made. Surely, such systemic change is exactly what is needed if we are to implement the recommendations of the inquiry report. Is the government daunted by the scale of change required to bring about meaningful improvements in our mental health system? In response to calls to expand ACC funding to include psychological injury, minister Little said the government had no intentions to make the necessary law change. Is it adult ADHD? COVID-19 has people feeling restless, lacking focus and seeking diagnosis We're on a road to nowhere Come on inside Takin' that ride to nowhere We'll take that ride I'm feelin' okay this mornin' And you know We're on the road to paradise Here we go, here we go We're on a ride to nowhere Come on inside Takin' that ride to nowhere We'll take that ride Maybe you wonder where you are I don't care Here is where time is on. An obvious answer would be to increase funding for mental health training programmes to allow them to expand the number of people who enter these professions. It takes several years to train psychologists, mental health nurses, psychiatrists and social workers to provide evidence-based, culturally appropriate assessment and treatment. Most of these programmes are simply upskilling or moving workers already employed in the mental health system, not increasing the total number of staff. Health minister Andrew Little said the workforce shortfall is being addressed through programmes such as postgraduate training in cognitive behavioural therapy and child and adolescent mental health.īut government investments thus far are doing little more than shuffling deckchairs on the Titanic. The government has acknowledged the workforce shortage and that increasing the mental health workforce is a long game. A 2018 survey by the NZ College of Clinical Psychologists showed New Zealand was short of almost 1000 psychologists at the time. Mental health services outside those funded by DHBs are either running long waitlists or no longer accept new referrals. This increased public demand can be seen in a positive light, as it indicates people are more willing to acknowledge and seek help for their mental health. The number of people seeking psychological support is increasing, likely due in part to the groundbreaking and tireless efforts of mental health campaigners such as former rugby player Sir John Kirwan, former comedian Mike King and the 2021 Young New Zealander of the Year Jazz Thornton. While the Accident Compensation Corporation ( ACC) system provides excellent support for people with physical injuries, it leaves those suffering solely psychological trauma out in the cold. The same applies to mental health support for people who experience psychological trauma - such as those who witnessed the Christchurch mosque shootings. Although attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD) is one of the most common disorders, services for adults with ADHD are almost non-existent. Unsurprisingly, those whose needs don’t meet the strict criteria of a District Health Board (DHB) mental health service are even worse off. Imagine being a parent of a teen who is depressed and self-harming, yet being unable to access the expert support needed for over two months. ![]() These services are set up to support only young people with the most severe and complex mental health needs. Unofficial figures released recently by the National Party show the wait time can be up to 72 days. Mental health hubs could be the answerĪccess to regionally funded mental health services for children and adolescents seems equally impossible. Youth anxiety and depression are at record levels. Yet access is almost impossible, with waitlists of four months or more to see a psychologist. We need accurate assessments and skilled treatments to help sufferers overcome eating problems. There are some American classics and a few others I thought appropriate.The COVID-19 lockdowns brought a silent increase in the number of young people developing eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, which are among the most serious and potentially lethal mental health problems a person can develop. Every great road trip movie has one! And believe me, every time those tunes come on the radio, you’ll be taken straight back to that amazing trip you had! ![]() Think of this as the soundtrack to your adventure. From my mum’s cassette tapes on long family road trips to the many rock bands I’ve been in over the last twenty years, so I like to think my taste in music is pretty ok… (my friends might disagree). Music has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. Actually, life is amazing!īut the roads are long, and there’s only one thing that could make this trip ANY better! And that’s an epic soundtrack! Lookin’ for adventure, and whatever comes our way.” (Steppenwolf) “Get your motor runnin’, head out on the highway.
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