4. Mental Health Services—Funding and QualityHon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader—Labour) to the Minister of HealthMental Health Services—Funding and Quality4. Hon ANNETTE KING (Deputy Leader—Labour) to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by Jonathan Coleman's statement that the Government should have instigated a review of mental health services after years of evidence showing the system was failing people; if so why is a review not needed now?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (Minister of Health): Yes. These paraphrased comments from way back in 2008 reflected the general concern at the time about Labour's management of the health system. A massive amount of work has been undertaken over the last 8 years which has resulted in more New Zealanders gaining greater access to the mental health services that they need in a more timely manner. There is always more to do in this complex area and 8 years on a review is unlikely to provide any information that we do not have already.Hon Annette King: If a review was necessary in 2008 why does he deny one now when there are daily reports of failure deaths in care a nearly 50 percent increase in 111 mental health calls six district health boards (DHBs) reporting insufficient funding to cover services DHBs underspending through lack of staff and NGOs reporting they have reached crisis point?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: I dispute that range of assertions but the fact is that the number of people seeking mental health assistance from the system has increased from 96000 a year a decade ago to 164000. So there has been a big uplift. But at the same time of course there is more funding going in there so it has gone up from $1.1 billion to $1.4 billion per year. We have got initiatives like the Prime Minister's Youth Mental Health Project the Like Minds Like Mine approach and the Rising to the Challenge mental health strategy. There is a lot of work going on. I welcome the member's constructive suggestions but unfortunately I do not think she has got any.Hon Annette King: I would like to table an Official Information Act (OIA) request from the DHB provider arm 12 months to June 2016 showing the data that I quoted about the underspending but for lack of money.Mr SPEAKER: The document has been described. I will put the leave. Leave is sought to table that particular OIA response. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Hon Annette King: When he said in 2007 that over 2000 reported suicide attempts represented measureable outcomes in mental health and by that criteria this Government is failing" do the over 3000 reported suicide attempts—the latest figures available—represent his Government's failing; if not why not?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Look I think the member has got to do better than dig up quotes from a decade ago. The fact is this is always a complex area. The suicide rate actually per capita—listen to this—has dropped.Hon David Cunliffe: Smarmy little man.Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Sorry?Hon David Cunliffe: Smarmy little man.Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: The suicide rate has dropped per capita over the last 5 years. It is a complex area but we have got to do better all the time. That is why we are putting more resources into it. That is why there is a DHB Suicide Prevention Action Plan a revised strategy that is being worked on and there are more and more initiatives being rolled out in this area but it is a complex and difficult one.Hon Annette King: When he said in 2006 that it was particularly concerning that hospitalisations for suicide for young women had rocketed from 551 to 573 under Labour how concerned is he now when the numbers have increased from 485 in 2008 to 726 according to the latest figures available?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Actually I dispute those figures. But the point is I think we should all be very concerned about the suicide rate. I do not think it is actually something the member should be playing politics with. She is not able to come up with a single constructive suggestion to tackle what is actually a very serious problem. So rather than just playing politics with it I would welcome one policy from Labour and it has not got a single one in this area.Hon Annette King: I seek leave to table a Ministry of Health dataset on suicide self-harm a spreadsheet showing the figures I have just given for young women as being—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The last part is unnecessary. Leave is sought to table that particular Ministry of Health dataset. Is there any objection to it being tabled? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Hon Annette King: How does he know that the increase in mental health funding is being spent where it is needed when after 8 years in Government he is still reviewing the suicide prevention strategy still developing policy still developing action plans and is still months away from any decision? Is this not just waffle and—Mr SPEAKER: Order!Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Look all that is incorrect. We have got a ring-fenced amount for mental health—$1.4 billion per year goes into it. We have got this—Hon Annette King: You're snookered.Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: The member should read this document Rising to the Challenge. This is the mental health plan published in 2012. The DHBs all have suicide prevention action plans. They are being updated with new initiatives. There is a whole lot of work going on and once again I challenge the member to name one single policy response that Labour has because there is not one is there? No.Hon Annette King: I'm here to ask the questions.Mr SPEAKER: Order! No. I am here to chair the session so it would help if we did not have that interjection.Hon Annette King: Does he agree with the Mental Health Foundation which said yesterday that to prevent suicide in New Zealand we need to take a hard look at the factors; if so why will he not undertake a review and address the underlying causes including resourcing?Hon Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN: Look of course we need to take a hard look at the factors but this is a very complex area and rather than the member continually playing politics I would welcome her constructive suggestions. But the problem is that she is intellectually bankrupt and has not got a single—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That last comment will not help the order. [Interruption] Order! You have had your fun."