Mental Health
Why is Mental Health one of MidCentral DHB’s Health Priority Areas?
Mental Health is a health priority for MidCentral District Health Board because approximately 20% of the population at any one time is estimated to have diagnosable mental illness. This includes mild disorders and drug and alcohol problems.
More information about planning around mental health is availiable in the Mental Health and Addictions Strategy.
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Of this 20% of people with mental illness, 2.5% of adults and 5% of children and youth in new Zealand will have a severe, ongoing and disabling mental illness, the most common being, depression, bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia. These illnesses require treatment from specialist mental health and drug and alcohol services.
Information about Mental Health services currently funded and priorities for mental health in 2007 and 2008.
Mental Health and Addiction Services Strategy
The Board’s ten year Strategic Plan: July 2002 to June 2012 identified mental health as a priority area to address in order to improve the overall health and wellbeing of the District’s population. The focus of the Mental Health and Addiction Services Strategy is to support recovery and mental health.
The strategy outlines:
- Links to guidance provided by New Zealand national strategies for mental health and addiction services
- The key characteristics of the District’s population in relation to mental health and addiction prevalence
- Six broad overarching strategic goals for mental health and addiction service development in the District including specific objectives.
MidCentral DHB’s Strategies to Improve Mental Health:
- Build on existing regional risk management to achieve an integrated community response to prevent a crisis
- Implement recommendations in relation to speciality mental health services provided on a regional basis, for example, alcohol and drug, child and youth, and eating disorders
- Continue to develop forensic mental health services on a regional basis
- Implement the findings from the alcohol and drug intensive treatment review
- Address waiting times for children to access mental health services
- Implement the recommendations from the regional Maori Mental Health Plan, and the Pacific People’s Mental Health Plan
Investment
MidCentral, Capital and Coast, Whanganui, Hawkes Bay, Hutt and Wairarapa District Health Boards work together to plan and provide health services for the combined region.
MidCentral DHB’s ongoing investment in mental health services is therefore determined via a regional process.
Additional funds will be used to purchase mental health services. This will commence in the short to medium term and will have an annual investment of $1.5million.
MidCentral District Health Board spends approximately $34 million on the provision of mental health services. Of this amount, $21.6 million funds services provided by MidCentral Health, $9.6 million funds services provided by other providers in the district (non-Government owned providers), and $2.7 million funds services provided on MidCentral DHB’s behalf by other DHBs. The Government has allocated additional funding for mental health to progress implementation of the Mental Health Commission’s Blueprint.
For 2007/08 MidCentral DHB will receive an additional $790,000 for investment in mental health and addiction services. Of this, $186,000 contributes to regional investment in forensic “step down” residential services. The remaining $604,000 will be invested in local supported accommodation, kaupapa Maori services, eating disorder services, and workforce development.
What Services are Currently Funded?
Mental health services care for the 3% of the population who are diagnosed as having a severe mental illness. Total mental health funding across the Central Region is approximately $145 million per annum. This has increased by 20% over the last three years. Funding growth for 2006/07 will be approximately 3%.
MidCentral District Health Board will purchase the following mental health services for its client communities (recognising that for some services our client communities include other District Health Boards). Personal mental health services, including acute inpatient services, community-based services and crisis intervention services cover:
- Drug and alcohol services
- Services for children and young people
- Kaupapa Maori mental health services
- Forensic Services
- Services for Elderly
- Community-based rehabilitation and residential support services
- Community-based day activity services
- Consumer-based services
MidCentral District Health Board will also provide funds to support the continuing development of the mental health workforce both in terms of capacity and capability.
Priorities for 2007/08
Equitable Access for People in Outlying and Rural Areas
Rural and outlying areas continue to be a priority area for future investment in mental health and addiction services. MidCentral DHB has increased staffing in community-based teams to ensure improved access, particularly for child and adolescents.
Developing the Continuum of Kaupapa Maori Services
Blueprint funding will be invested in kaupapa Maori mental health and addiction services. This funding will be used to increase the capacity of local Iwi/Maori health providers so they can deliver more services, particularly in the areas of early intervention and respite care.
Increasing Eating Disorder Services
An additional specialist eating disorders clinician will be recruited for the district. This position will be funded with Blueprint mental health funding. MidCentral DHB is currently funded for one such clinician and the recruitment of a further one will greatly strengthen the service and enable it to be more effective. These clinicians work in conjunction with a range of other mental health workers and it is intended that a greater level of medical input will be made available during 2007/08.
Developing the Capacity of MidCentral Health’s Mental Health Service
MidCentral Health provides a range of mental health and addiction services throughout the district. These services have been progressively increased over the last few years in line with the DHB’s Mental Health and Addictions Plan. Further increases are planned for 2007/08 and six full time equivalents will be employed. These include four child, adolescent and family mental health workers, the specialist eating disorders clinician, and a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.
The four internships for allied health workers which was established in 2006 will be continued. Acute mental health treatment options are predominantly provided in a hospital setting. In line with developments in clinical best practice and in response to consumer and family feedback, MidCentral Health will develop a model for home-based acute treatment options.
This will improve accessibility, provide greater options and choices for acute assessment and treatment, and free-up pressure on the inpatient acute unit. MidCentral Health’s Child, Adolescent and Family Service is to be reconfigured to support expanding services. This will include a review of their facility requirements and it is likely the service will either redevelop its current accommodation or relocate to new premises.
Depression Management
A range of training activities will be held for health professionals, particularly those in the primary sector, to assist them in identifying and managing depression. This will both assist access for residents and enable early intervention. Support groups will be established throughout the district to support youth.
More information on planning around Depression
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Last Updated 29/10/2007