A Waikato mental health campaigner wants to know why the Minister of Health will not meet with suicide-bereaved families in Waikato.
Jane Stevens giving evidence on the opening day of an inquest into her son s death in March 2015.
Photo: RNZ
Jane Stevens has been waiting over a year to get a meeting with the minister to discuss mental health services.
Her son Nicky took his own life while in the care of the Waikato DHB in 2015.
Stevens first wrote on behalf of a group of bereaved families to the then minister David Clark in February last year.
He agreed to meet, but lost his job soon after.
Warning: This story discusses suicide and depression
A depressed woman whose baby died was denied help from Perinatal Mental Health Services - and other mothers in extreme distress say they can t get treatment via their DHBs or ACC. When suicide remains New Zealand s biggest killer of pregnant women and new mothers, why can t mums get help?
Photo: RNZ/Vinay Ranchhod
It is when Sarah is thinking of killing herself that a Maternal Mental Health Service finally agrees to help her.
Despite a history of depression, a difficult pregnancy and a seriously sick baby, mental health services had twice refused to treat her, despite referrals from her midwife and doctor.
Christchurch terror attack witness urges more mental health support indianweekender.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from indianweekender.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Sexual Abuse Prevention Network president Fiona McNamara.
Photo: John Lake/The Wireless
The latest figures from the Ministry of Justice showed 31 percent of those charged with rape were convicted (89 people).
For all sexual offences, the conviction rate was slightly higher, at 44 percent.
The conviction rate for other types of charges is 71 percent.
RespectEd Aotearoa chief executive Fiona McNamara said the statistic showed the system for dealing with sexual violence was not working and systemic change was needed.
She said government spending on prevention needed to be boosted more than 10-fold. There has not been a focus on prevention - there is very little happening. There are some initiatives going on but not enough.
Matt Fenn s 654km run to raise suicide awareness rnz.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rnz.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.