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The police were forced to abandon their proposal to send mental health workers in crisis after the government reallocated its funding.
Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
Last year, the national government announced $ 8 million to try it.
The project was to begin in Auckland, Christchurch and Palmerston North by September
. "As a result, the three agencies involved [police, ambulance and mental health services] did not receive funding to start the pilot project," said a police spokesman
.
The police proposal, published under the Official Information Act last year, indicated that the police [traduction] "was acting more and more as a first responder to those who should be more appropriate mental response. " 9659005] "As a result, police officers do not always treat the mentally handicapped in a way that promotes their physical and mental well-being, which increases their distress and exposes them to a greater risk of danger when they are in danger." they are in custody. 19659005] Party National Police spokesman Chris Bishop said the government's decision was "anything but scandalous".
"Police spend about 280 hours a day responding to mental health calls. They do a good job, but they are not mental health professionals. Having a mental health nurse deployed during incidents with the police would make a real difference.
The Pilot Project Would Have Lightened the Pressure on the Police and Improved the Quality of "
" It is unbecoming to believe that this government would end the potentially revolutionary pilot project that enjoyed universal support from people in the front line "
. But Health Minister David Clark said the idea had never been fully developed and that funding had never been formally signed by the Cabinet. The other 16 flew in the middle of growing public concern about the state of mental health in this country, "he said in a statement.
He acknowledged the need to improve He stated: [TRADUCTION] "We are making progress in a wide range of initiatives that will help people get this help."
"Increasing Funding for Mental Health Services in the Budget 18 is significantly better than anything the previous government had planned. "
Dr. Clark announced a ministerial inquiry into mental health and addictions in January A group of six members traveled the country to hear the point of view and should report back in October.
"I think the recommendations of the study will include advice to improve the rapid response to urgent needs." [19659023]
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