Hutchison Paul: Mental Health Commission Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Hutchison Paul: Mental Health Commission Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:641;Page:10930] 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Port Waikato) 
: 
 I rise to speak on this very important Mental Health Commission Amendment Bill. The commission started in 1996 under a National Government. It was brought about after many years of the mental health sector being regarded as a Cinderella sector—much like the disability sector is today. It has meant that there has been an independent advocacy power for people with mental illness and that has had a very powerful effect over the last 10 years or so. 
I am very sympathetic to Dr Jonathan Coleman’s amendment which suggests a 3-yearly review. This does not mean stopping or terminating the Mental Health Commission but merely reviewing it. It is so important within the context of mental health to ensure that all aspects of it are effectively monitored and that includes the financial aspects. As this Government has found out resources are finite and the demand in any aspect of the health sector is almost infinite. It is hugely important that we are responsible. 
For a moment or two I want to go over the functions of the commission which are highlighted in Part 1. These do draw attention to the very important aspects that the commission is there for. Firstly it is there to act as an advocate for the interests of people with mental illness and their families because so often they cannot advocate for themselves. We hear this time and time again in the disability review being undertaken at present by the Social Services Committee. So often we have heard the request that a similar commission be set up for the disability sector. Secondly it will promote and facilitate collaboration and communication about mental health issues among stakeholders and representatives in the mental health government academic and community sectors and members of the general public. Indeed there are lots of stakeholders and it is hugely important that they are given the chance to collaborate so that their networks are built up and they are all talking the same theme. This is one of the aspects that was not there when the deinstitutionalisation occurred and it has been built up gradually over the last 10 years. 
The commission will work independently and with others to promote better understanding as I have just mentioned and to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. I think Jonathan Coleman just pointed out how successful the recent TV advertisements have been involving a former All Black whom many New Zealanders can identify with so easily. John Kirwan has been prepared to give of his time and be so frank about the condition that plagued him; and obviously many New Zealanders have realised that this is something that so easily could affect them. Indeed it pervades so many families throughout our society. So this is one of the very important functions of the commission that needs to be perpetuated. 
The commission will monitor report to the Minister and advise the Minister on any matter relating to the implementation of the national mental health strategy. This is very important. The blueprint for mental health has meant that there has been an amount of money out there and at times there have not been the people able to fulfil the duties that are required. For instance paediatric community mental health has not had paediatric psychiatrists available. This has been of great concern given that paediatric mental health is one of the areas that are so important. If we are not able to ensure that a child with mental health problems is given early attention then it can get much much worse and it is much harder at a later date to help that individual. Over the last 6 or 7 years we have seen a dearth of community paediatric psychiatrists and the situation has not been made much better to my knowledge under this Labour Government. This is the sort of function that is very important for the Mental Health Commission to carry out and feel free to report on. The commission reports on a yearly basis and it is so vital that that can be done without fear or favour of government. 
The commission will stimulate and support the policy makers funders and providers of mental health services in developing integrated effective and efficient methods or systems. One of the things we do know is that many systems are involved with mental health not only in the health services but in the Ministry of Social Development and education and that the complex arrangements around these are often very fragmented. So it is hugely important to perpetuate this commission and I agree entirely with the very sensible amendment put forward by my colleague Dr Jonathan Coleman that the term be reviewed on a 3-yearly basis. 
The question was put that the following amendment in the name of Dr Jonathan Coleman to clause 8 be agreed to: 
to omit from subclause (1) the expression “2015” and substitute the words “3 years after the date of the Royal assent of the Mental Health Commission Amendment Act 2007”.