Mental health waitlists: Feeling ignored amid escalating symptoms

+Practice

In print

Mental health

Mental health waitlists: Feeling ignored amid escalating symptoms

8 November 2023

By Terry Fleming, Bridget Farrant and Cathy Stephenson

Wednesday 8 November 2023, 12:30 AM

Small steps can help reduce distress, such as connecting with important people and places [Image: Joseph Pearson on Unsplash]

This article looks at ways you can help minimise harms while patients wait to be seen by specialist mental health services

Key points, Unsupported delays for mental health services are distressing and can be harmful. Quality communication about when and how to get more help, and ste, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

1. Sutcliffe K, Ball J, Clark TC, et al. Rapid and unequal decline in adolescent mental health and well-being 2012-2019: Findings from New Zealand cross-sectional surveys. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2023;57(2):264–82.
2. New Zealand Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. Te Huringa: Change and Transformation. Mental Health Service and Addiction Service Monitoring Report 2022. Wellington, NZ; 2022.
3. McGorry PD, Mei C. Early intervention in youth mental health: progress and future directions. BMJ Ment Health 2018;21(4):182–84.
4. New Zealand Government. He Ara Oranga: Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction. Wellington, NZ; 2018.

How to Treat

+How to treat

Polypharmacy

For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:50 AM