Ignored, forgotten, and neglected. These words come to mind for Epsom Youth MP Jade Varney when she thinks of New Zealand’s mental health systems.
At Youth Parliament on Tuesday, Varney demanded action for deteriorating youth mental health. She was not alone in her concern. Of the 120 Youth MPs participating in this year’s edition of the triennial Youth Parliament, 18 of them used their opportunities to speak in the debating chamber to plead for action on the mental health crisis.
Youth MP Jade Varney during her speech in the Youth Parliament General Debate, Tuesday 19th July 2022. Photo: Mishka Lombaard
Varney said that youth mental health issues were fast becoming an epidemic in New Zealand, which has one of the highest youth suicide rates in the developed world.
Government had failed to develop any substantial solutions to improving the systems to address mental health issues, Varney said. She pointed to the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission’s report from March this year which found government action had made no difference, despite a $1.9 billion investment in 2019.
“I would listen to the people that are being affected by the systems directly. I would take action after listening to their voices. I would prioritise this issue,” she said.
“Our current government, and a succession of governments before, is letting us down.”
Varney, who has first-hand knowledge of New Zealand’s mental health systems due to her experiences with anorexia, feels fortunate she was able to receive private health care. Even so, she experienced an eight-week wait for treatment and came close to being hospitalised. She said the system is broken.
“I feel the urgency for those in the public care system. Currently, waiting times are around eight months for some people reaching out for help. This is not acceptable. If you are sick, you need help now, not in two months, not in three months and definitely not in eight months.”
Varney said she felt disgusted to hear how those in the public system were “churned out” as soon as they’re considered to be physically stable with no mental health support.
She cited the case of one person who was “dragged through the broken system just as quickly as she was chucked out of it”.
“Lo and behold, she ended up in hospital multiple times, adding to the strain on our health systems. This is not her fault, but the fault of our broken mental health systems.”
Varney said she was scared for the future if governments could not prioritise and fix the problems. However, Youth Parliament has served as a timely reminder to those in charge of the country’s health system that the younger generations are copping the brunt of a mental health crisis.
"We are the future, we are being failed, we are suffering."
*Jessie Davidson is a member of the Youth Press Gallery which takes the role of independent media reporting on Youth MPs and Youth Parliament 2022. This article can be republished freely on your platform subject to the following conditions:
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- It must include the following attribution to RNZ as the copyright owner: This story was originally published on RNZ and is republished with permission.
