"I think it’s very clear when you call 111 with a physical health crisis [currently] you get a health response. When you call 111 with a mental health crisis in New Zealand you get a criminal justice response.
“I think most people are saying it would be better if we had mental health professionals turning up to 111 calls when there is a mental health crisis response needed, and that’s what I would support as the new mental health minister.”
Where a person’s life was at risk, police should be responding alongside mental health professionals, but a police presence would not be needed in every case, he said.
Doocey has requested that Health NZ, the police and the Ministry of Health look at a five-year rollout of a mental health co-response team programme.
It would probably involve taking those mental health workers from other areas, so would need a good assessment of where those people are best suited (proactive or reactive).
I had a bit of a look but failed to find any data broken down by region. Perhaps Wellingtonians are more likely to be able to afford counselling, so more likely to see it as an option for them?
Yeah I can’t find it either, though my google fu is weak at the moment cos I’m on my phone.
I don’t think they were necessarily seeking it more than others, more it was occurring to me as the right option for them.