YesWeCare.nz – Better funding. Better health.

 

Stachybotrys chartarum, or simply toxic black mould, is a form of fungi which creates its conidium (spores) in wet, damp areas such as humid basements, attics or storage sheds. It can be found naturally in grain and soil, but the most commonly found form of toxic mould is found in damp or damped building materials in damp and moist environments.

These spores release harmful bacteria which causes allergic reactions in humans and animals. The spores of toxic mould are released into air, which may lead to the development of serious health problems and illnesses in people and animals alike.

Some common symptoms of toxic mould exposure include redness and irritation in the nose and throat, coughing, wheezing, respiratory irritation and chest congestion. It can also lead to the development of a sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and fever. These symptoms are not confined to humans. Animals may also develop these symptoms including flea infestations, ticks, and even skin rash or lesions.

If you suspect you are exposed to this form of black mould, it is important that you seek medical help immediately to avoid further complications of developing serious health problems. If you have been exposed to toxic mould, you must make sure that you contact an experienced health and safety advisor as soon as possible.

In order to eliminate or reduce the threat of developing serious health problems, you should avoid breathing in or touching any airborne particles of black mould. You should also try to keep your house clean by washing all fabrics after every time they have been used in the house, including carpets and rugs.

If you already have a severe respiratory illness or condition such as asthma or hay fever, it is important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible to avoid developing chronic, life-threatening conditions that can worsen your condition. If you already have any breathing difficulties, or if your lungs are damaged, you should seek immediate medical attention for further treatment.

Once you have sought medical assistance for toxic mould exposure, you should ensure that you take immediate steps to eliminate black mould and other airborne particles from your environment by vacuuming and cleaning up spills and droppings daily. If you have pets at home, they should also be taken for a thorough cleaning. They should not only be cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis to prevent spreading spores to other areas of the house but also to remove any contaminated residue from the surface of carpets and rugs and floors. For carpets, you should use a vacuum cleaner and brush to remove all stains and debris and dirt, including hair, skin cells and hairs.

Once you have taken immediate measures to improve indoor air quality, you should also seek advice from a specialist in mould removal to determine the source of the problem. To ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency in eliminating mould in the future, you should also hire a professional firm to deal with any existing problems with mould that may exist in the future.

Many businesses offer black mould removal services and will guarantee a high level of safety for clients. Some companies will also provide assistance with the management of any existing mould issues, such as mold growth in walls and ceilings and on appliances.

There are many reasons why you may need to contact a company for black mould removal and other mold related problems. You may be suffering from severe respiratory conditions which could make it difficult to breathe, especially during the winter months, you could have a lung infection or a cold or cough, you may have allergies which could lead to allergic reactions, you may be suffering from asthma, or have chronic lung problems, or a lung disease such as emphysema. or COPD, you may have had a reaction to a chemical spill from a leaky pipe or drainage system in the past, and you may just want to keep your family safe.

No matter what the reason you require black mould removal, it is imperative that you get professional help as soon as possible to avoid further health risks. The longer you wait, the more dangerous it becomes for you and your family.

With the availability of the internet, you can easily find a local black mould removal company in your area. Once you have made contact with a reputable company, they will be able to guide you through the entire process of the cleaning process and provide you with the best solutions possible.

 

When you are in NZ and thinking of visiting New Zealand or possibly never even thought of it, you might have considered going to a local sex shop in New Zealand. However, if you’ve been thinking of having a family soon, you should seriously consider going to a local sex shop in New Zealand. There’s nothing wrong with shopping for your new arrival, for instance, a special baby bib for a pregnant woman.

If you can’t find one locally, you can always get your hands on a range of baby bibs from overseas. In New Zealand, the main brands are BabyoftheDay and BabyGiant. There are a few other brands you can buy from. For example, there are some sex shops that will sell you towels, blankets and other baby-related products from abroad.

BabyBibs are very popular with new parents. You can either purchase a number of bibs or just one large one. They come in a variety of colors and patterns. The designs are cute, yet cute doesn’t necessarily mean naughty. You can buy bibs in different colours such as light pink, light blue, black and white.

BabyBibs come in all sizes and shapes. In fact, the range of sizes is almost endless. A lot of baby bibs will have elastic bands to fit your baby’s weight. It is recommended that you use the same size bib at each baby shower and use as many different colour styles as you want.

BabyBibs also come in a range of styles. Some baby bibs will be in the shape of a diaper. You can also get bibs that are shaped like a headband. They are made from various materials including nylon and cotton. Some baby bibs have zippers so they don’t rip, and you can get them in colours such as white, green, yellow, blue, purple and red.

There are also different online stores that sell these baby items. The advantage of buying online is you can buy a large number of different styles in different colours and patterns at the same time, saving money. You can also buy large amounts at one after another.

Buying from the Internet will also mean that you can shop in privacy. Unlike in an actual store, there are no prying eyes staring at you. This can make your purchase less intrusive.

Buying online also allows you to save money. If you’re not looking to make a large purchase, you might want to consider buying online as you won’t have to spend money on stamps or buying more than one product. You can often buy the same item online for much cheaper and in large quantities.

Sex shop NZ is an excellent place to buy clothing. This store has everything from underwear, bras and thongs to lingerie, garter belts. They also sell sex toys and other products for couples.

If you want to buy sexy sex toys, you can buy them online too. This is a good choice if you don’t want to leave the comfort of your home. It is important to remember that all sex toys are not safe to use around children. It is best to buy from a reputable seller so you can feel sure the products are safe.

Sex shop NZ30 is another good place to buy clothes for your partner. They also sell lingerie, especially in a plus size range. If you have a partner in your life, buying sexy lingerie together is a good idea.

There are also some websites that sell lingerie in Auckland. You can buy a large selection of lingerie for intimate moments, such as when you have sex. This makes the occasion all the more romantic.

 

Nic salts are the hot new thing on the market and many papers and smokers alike are flocking in droves to it to finally quit smoking for good. If you have never heard of this product, Nic salt essentially allows you to VAPE at higher nicotine concentrations without having the throat hit that you are so accustomed to. The high nicotine levels allow for a much smoother smoking experience.

As you can imagine, the benefits of this product far outweigh any others in the market today. Let me start off by saying that there is nothing wrong with quitting smoking and being a smoker. Many people would rather live with the problem than not. I, however, hate the fact that I smoke, but I will live with it.

With Nic Salt, you will have a much smoother smoking experience. This product will help reduce the amount of time it takes for your body to break down the nicotine and reduce the amount of “hit” you get from your cigarette. It also helps to alleviate the cravings that you may have.

Of course, not everyone needs to quit smoking, but there are some reasons why you should try this product out as it can be quite helpful to those trying to kick the habit. Most importantly, Nic salts help people reduce the number of cigarette puffs they take in a day. They will not feel as dependent on nicotine as they did before.

There are many different types of nic salts that are available on the market. One of the most popular brands is named Nicotine Salt, and has been in the market for quite some time now. They have many different varieties to choose from as well. There are many different brands of nicotine salt.

Another type of nic salt is called the Purely Herbal Nicotine Salt, which comes in both spray and liquid form. This one actually looks like a candy bar in appearance and has many different herbs in it as well as other substances.

Of course, you do not have to smoke anymore if you purchase these products to take advantage of the benefits of nicotine. Just remember to use the product properly.

Remember that your body is your only limit to how much nicotine it can handle, so be smart when you are trying to quit. This is a great way to help reduce the cravings you may feel while you are trying to kick the habit. I know you will not want to miss your nicotine fix!

The main ingredient found in Nic Salt is Nicotrol. It is a natural substance that is made in the body, and once it gets into the blood stream it works as a decongestant to help you reduce the craving of cigarettes.

As far as what this product can do for you, I am sure you have already heard that you can lose weight in less time if you choose to use Nic Salt. to help you feel better and be healthier. This is a great benefit as well. Since you are getting your nicotine from natural means, you will feel much better in general.

The reason you want to try Nic Salt is because it works so well. You will not get withdrawal symptoms from it, like many other products do when you stop.

Another thing about it is that it has been known to have some beneficial effects on the mind as well. Some studies have been done to show it can increase your concentration and your memory. It does this because it works as an anti-depressant.

Of course, you may not want to stop using this product immediately. You need to allow it to work for several days before you consider a permanent solution to your problem. Be sure to consult a doctor before deciding if this product is the right thing for you.

 

Cosmetics include a vast range of products which are used in order to improve or enhance the look of the skin or body or even to improve the health of an individual. The products range from cosmetics to skincare and perfume. This article is going to discuss some of the cosmetic products which are included in the list.

Cosmetic products are used by many different types of people. One of the first examples of a cosmetic that has been found in history is makeup. Today, makeup products can be made to look like various other types of objects such as books, shoes, clothing and even real objects. A great example of a cosmetic that was created in order to resemble a book is the book shaped lipstick.

The next category of products on the list would be personal care products. These types of products are used by many different people each day and they include things such as toothpaste, hand sanitizer, cleaning lotion and even skin care products. Many times these products can be considered to be the most common products that people will use each day and they can include items such as toothpaste, mouth wash, toothpaste and even mouth wash.

Some of the more common types of personal care products include beauty products such as makeup. Another very common item that can be used everyday perfumes. There are also some very popular cosmetic products that can be used by all different types of people and these include eye shadows, eyeliners and blushes.

The third of the most popular types of products in this category include fragrances. Perfumes are also very popular and are often the first thing people will notice when they are wearing something new. There are also some common types of personal care items that can contain a variety of fragrances such as soap and shampoo.

The final category of cosmetics is the food and beauty categories. These products are designed to provide the consumer with many different ingredients that can be used to make different types of food. The most common type of food that can contain cosmetics is ice cream.

There are also some food and beauty products such as foods, which are not specifically designed to contain cosmetics. Foods such as bread, cakes, biscuits and even milk can use different types of food coloring, fruit juice and other additives in order to make them appear fresh and colorful.

Overall, there are many different types of cosmetics that can be found in almost every household today. There are products that can improve the look of a person’s skin, body or even their diet and there are even foods that can help improve the appearance of a person’s diet.

These products can be extremely expensive and there are times when people do not have much money left over for the day to purchase these items. This means that some people will use a variety of different products for their entire day. Other people will only use one type of product for a couple of hours and then they will use a different type of product for another few hours until they finish the day.

No matter what type of product you choose, it is important to research the different types of cosmetics available. as there are some products which have very dangerous ingredients that could actually be harmful to your health.

When researching these products, it is important to read the label of the product as well as there are some that can be harmful if you are allergic to any of the ingredients. If you are unsure about a particular product, it is a good idea to consult a doctor to make sure that you do not have a reaction to the ingredients.

It is also a good idea to read customer reviews about any particular product before buying it. as there are always going to be people who have a bad experience with a certain product that has caused them to have a negative experience.

Almost half of New Zealand pro rugby players are Māori or Pasifika, so alarm bells should have rung at reports of Pacific men committing suicide.

Pacific Island/Māori men make up almost half of the professional rugby players in New Zealand.

In the NRL, the figure is 42 per cent. So when reports of young Pacific men committing suicide started to emerge in recent years it should have been an existential crisis for the codes themselves.

Ma’a Nonu is probably the greatest No 12 in All Blacks history but it took an age before people considered him to be more than a ‘physical’ player.

That it wasn’t shows young Pacific Island men are still “outsiders” rather than “insiders” in the sports and their mental health challenges are poorly understood.

In the NRL, the figure is 42 per cent. So when reports of young Pacific men committing suicide started to emerge in recent years it should have been an existential crisis for the codes themselves.

Ma’a Nonu is probably the greatest No 12 in All Blacks history but it took an age before people considered him to be more than a ‘physical’ player.

That it wasn’t shows young Pacific Island men are still “outsiders” rather than “insiders” in the sports and their mental health challenges are poorly understood.

But Auckland University academics Caleb Marsters and Dr Jermaima Tiatia-Seath are changing that, with Marsters leading a study into young Pacific Island players and mental health.

Their findings outline how Pacific cultures view mental wellbeing in a fundamentally different way to the “individualistic” European/Western model, and also put context around the current tensions between religion as sport as evidenced by the Israel Folau controversy.

And they also indicate that one of the stresses that Pacific Island men must deal with is living up to the stereotype of being physically dominant, the enforcer: in essence, of being the Jake the Muss.

“What comes to mind is that Once Were Warriors movie,” Dr Tiatia-Seath tells Stuff. “Along with that comes aggression, standover tactics, physical dominance . . . and so you can imagine that can be transferred out on the field.”

Jason Taumalolo is a strong man but his position among league’s elite also has a lot to do with his intelligent running lines.
​Marsters interviewed 20 Pacific men from ages 16-24 for the study. Thirteen played rugby and seven played league, and the majority were either semi-professional, fully contracted or in development teams.

Leveraging his personal and sporting networks, trust was a key factor in Marsters getting them to open up. Once that was established, he found them forthcoming about their lives.

The interview subjects emphasised how they valued a holistic approach to mental health.

One typical response was: “An example is when things are good with family, your girlfriend, you’re good with God, content, studies are going well, and you’re playing well. To me that’s positive mental wellbeing.”

Former All Blacks No 6 Jerome Kaino never seemed particularly at ease with the ‘enforcer’ tag others gave to him.
When just one of these areas was ‘off’, the athlete’s entire sense of happiness suffered.

But they also carried the burden of having to be the ‘beast’ or ‘warrior’ on the playing field, the player who sees asking for help as a “weakness”.

“You’re almost living double or multiple lives,” Dr Tiatia-Seath says. “For those players in the public eye they have to carry that persona, which is untruthful for most part.

“It’s not entirely who we are. People tend to just focus on the physical aspect, which does bring a lot of discomfort to our population, because there is more to our men and players than just that.”

Cultural icons such as ‘Jake The Muss’ have reinforced the idea that Pacific Island/Maori men are defined by their physical traits.
Cultural icons such as ‘Jake The Muss’ have reinforced the idea that Pacific Island/Maori men are defined by their physical traits.
It was one reason, she says, why players such as former All Black Jerome Kaino struggled with the “enforcer” tag. On the paddock he was expected to be the hardest man on the planet but off it the label didn’t sit comfortably with him.

Marsters and Dr Tiatia-Seath acknowledged that physical strength Pacific Island players brought was something of a double-edged sword.

On the one hand young Pacific Island men had traits coveted by coaches, which meant they could attain sporting success and bring pride and socio-economic benefits to their families.

On the other hand, when people focused on these traits to the exclusion of their other attributes it could make young Pacific men less likely to ask for help when they are struggling and perpetuate the old myths about Pacific players being unsuited to to decision-making positions.

Players such as Richie Mo’unga at the Crusaders and the Highlanders’ Josh Ioane are killing off the myth that Pacific players can’t be the best decision makers.

“It’s changing ever so slightly,” Dr Tiatia-Seath says. “In Super Rugby we’re seeing a browning of first-fives … but still they aren’t getting as much game time as non-Pacific first-fives.

“[Then] You have a player like Ardie Savea. If he wasn’t Pacific he’d be getting a lot more exposure and yet I rate him as one of the country’s best. And the first thing that people hone in on is his size.”

Marsters also says there is a lag between how the Pacific Island community sees itself and how it is perceived by rugby and rugby league talent scouts.

“The talent we’re seeing a lot of these clubs trying to recruit is those positions, the explosive wingers, the big props or the forwards but it’s changing.

Dr Jemaima Tiatia-Seath, the co-head of the School of Maori Studies and Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland.
“Within our own communities these views have been changed for a while now. We know we can play other positions and contribute differently to society but on the outside, the big recruitment that is going on in our communities is still largely looking for those features – big and strong.

“It’s still more a positive than a negative but it can place limiting stereotypes on our young men.”

Understanding the triggers for mental health issues for young Pacific men could hardly be more urgent.

Marsters says both Pacific males and Pacific youth experience higher rates of mental illness and are less likely to access mental health services or ask for help than other New Zealand population groups.

Marsters says New Zealand sports organisations were now doing a better job of accommodating Pacific cultures but there was still a way to go.

“What we’re seeing now is the wake-up call,” he says. “The reality is Pacific athletes do come from a cultural and social background that is quite different to those running the sport.”

For Tiatia-Seath, the key to better mental health for young Pacific men was changing the narrative so that the ‘warrior’ tag had a broader meaning.

“We’d like to change that narrative so that it isn’t being about a dominator physically, rather we see a warrior mentality with someone who has thrived in the face of adversity and is resilient and is able to perform at a high level in among all the pressures external to the code – familial obligations, church obligations, and high family expectations.”

Stuff

A significant shortage of mental health nurses is putting staff at risk of burnout and impacting on patient care, an advocate says.

Specialist mental health services in Canterbury, based mainly at Hillmorton Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital, have vacancies for 60 full-time equivalent registered nurse positions. When fully staffed, the total nursing workforce is 550 full-time equivalent positions.

The number of vacancies was revealed in documents prepared for a Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) meeting this week. Staffing challenges were being monitored and managed daily and additional staffing options were being explored, the report says.

The shortage of nurses elsewhere in New Zealand has been described as a crisis. In July, the New Zealand Nurses’ Organisation suggested the army should be brought in to help at Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital because it was reportedly so understaffed.

Bernice Gibbs, chairwoman of consumer group Awareness: Canterbury Action on Mental Health and Addictions network, said having up to 60 vacancies was a huge issue.

“There would be issues around staff burnout, people working double shifts, and lots of overtime going on,” she said.

“That’s going to have an effect on your performance as a staff member and ultimately that’s going to have an impact on patients.”

The difficulty recruiting mental health nurses also raises questions about how new services around the country aimed at people with mild to moderate mental health needs would be staffed. The Government announced funding for the so-called universal frontline service in Budget 2019.

Health Minister David Clark said in a statement that the new services would require another 1600 full-time workers over five years, and the Government had allocated $77 million to train those people.

DHBs were “having to play catch up” with their workforces “after years of neglect”, he said.

“We are funding them to do so. We increased the funding for mental health services delivered by DHBs by $200m over four years in our first Budget and by a further $213m over four years in the Wellbeing Budget.

“The ministry is also working to increase the nursing workforce generally and will soon have some good news soon specifically around mental health nurses.”

PSA organiser Anthony Rimmell said unions representing mental health nurses in Canterbury were well aware of staffing shortage issues. Staff were being asked to move between units to make sure they were safely staffed and were also asked to take on extra shifts.

“The reality is people shouldn’t be having to consider working extra shifts to make sure that their wards are safe.”

Gutschlag said when there were shortages on a ward, the CDHB attempted to cover this from a casual pool of nurses. If this was unsuccessful, they would ask permanent staff if they could take on more hours.

“This does lead to situations where some nurses work overtime,” she said. “While this is closely monitored and we do aim to keep the amount of overtime nurses do to a minium, the current shortages in the workforce and high rates of sickness make this challenging.”

There were several initiatives in place to support staff wellbeing, Gutschlag said. The CDHB had also recently offered employment to at least 12 enrolled nurses, subject to them passing their exams, she said.

Mayim Bialik has filmed a short video opening up about her battle with depression.

Mayim Bialik has advised those living with mental health issues to never give up on treatment.

The 42-year-old actor, best known for playing Dr Amy Fowler in the hit comedy The Big Bang Theory, has filmed a short video opening up about her battle with depression.

The video was filmed for the Child Mind Institute and aims to break-down the stigma surrounding anxiety and bipolar disorder.

“What I would like to tell my younger self about mental health is that there are answers,” Bialik said. “For me, some of those answers I had to wait years to find and I needed to get different help, which ended up being the right kind of help.

“But I had this notion when I was younger that if something didn’t work once, or a therapist didn’t work or a medication didn’t work, that nothing would ever work. I wish I could have told my younger self [that] something will work.

Fellow actor Ryan Reynolds opened up about his own struggle with mental health last week, telling a New York Times reporter he uses the meditation app Headspace to deal with panic attacks.

“I’ve always had anxiety,” he said. “Both in the lighthearted ‘I’m anxious about this’ kind of thing, and I’ve been in the depths of the darker end of the spectrum, which is not fun.”

stuff

Empty shoes symbolising the 579 people who fell victim to suicide last year are making their way from the top and bottom of the country to end up on Parliament’s steps.

The Shoe Project will kick off on Sunday in Aotea Square, Whangarei and Invercargill with 579 pairs of shoes each.

The footwear will travel around the country before ending up on Parliament’s steps on September 10. A public meeting will be held the day after for bereaved families to talk about the change they want to see in the presence of politicians.

Recycle Boutique manager Lisa Wright has lost four young family members to suicide as well as her partner’s older brother. They were all young men and she’s passionate about speaking out to help them.

“It’s a horrible thing. So many people I know have ended their life.

“No one wants to talk about it, it’s such a taboo and stigma… There’s just not enough help out there to ensure this doesn’t happen.”

Wright’s workplace donated shoes to the project and Wright herself will be at the event on Sunday.

More than 200 families who have personally felt the devastation of suicide are involved in the campaign.

Project spokesman Simon Oosterman said they are campaigning for a suicide prevention target and an independent inquiry into the country’s mental health crisis.

“Not many people realise 579 people [committed suicide] in 2016, that’s a record number. When you see it it really hits you how many people we’re missing. It can be distressing for people but we need to talk about it.

“The majority of people who commit suicide need help and it’s not there.”

Three mums who lost their young sons to suicide have written an open letter in support of Yes We Care’s six election pledges. One of those mums, Patrice Harrex, lost her 25-year-old son Brad Anderson when he was released from hospital despite saying he wanted to take his own life. Two days later he was dead.

“If I was the health minister I would be hanging my head in shame and pulling my hair out thinking ‘what the hell are we going to do about this?,” Harrex said. “It’s time for action.”

The letter urged the Government to acknowledge there was a mental health crisis, provide support and do something about it.

Budget 2017 has set aside an extra $224 million for mental health, including $124m for new approaches.

Prime Minister Bill English recently advocated for online therapy to address the country’s high suicide rate.

The shoes will be set up for the project’s launch at Auckland’s Aotea Square, Whangarei’s Canopy Bridge and at the Gala St entrance to Queens Park in Invercargill at midday on Sunday. The footwear will be blessed at Bluff and Cape Reinga with the bereaved families in a private ceremony on Saturday.

Yes We Care’s six election pledges
​• Set a suicide reduction target
​• Hold a mental health inquiry
​• Restore $2.3b in health funding
​• Increase primary health, GP funding
​• Commit to safe staffing
​• Make every home healthy

Where to get help:

• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youthline: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (Mon-Fri 1pm to 10pm. Sat-Sun 3pm-10pm)
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• Samaritans 0800 726 666
• If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.​

The key groups calling for an inquiry into our mental health system welcome today’s announcement says the YesWeCare.nz health funding coalition.

The Government will announce the details of an Independent Mental Health Inquiry after 4 pm today in Wellington.

Bereaved Whānau Network spokesperson Jane Stevens, who lost her son Nicky to suicide in 2015, says real change starts with real people’s voices being heard.

“The success of the inquiry will depend on the broad participation of those directly affected by our mental health crisis and suicide and sustained political pressure and momentum to ensure lasting change,” Stevens says.

ActionStation’s People’s Mental Health Review spokesperson Kyle MacDonald says the inquiry is a rare opportunity for Kiwi’s voices to be heard.

“So many people struggle to access the help they need, when they need it,” MacDonald says. “The inquiry needs to clearly outline practical solutions that make the right help available.”

Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust spokesperson Corinda Taylor who lost her twenty-year-old son to suicide says the coalition’s goal is to ensure people feel safe and supported to take part.

“People who have been silenced, stigmatised and marginalised will need support to speak out,” Taylor says. “We need to make the change needed so other families don’t go through what my family and others have gone through.”

Public Service Association national secretary Erin Polaczuk says the union will continue to work with coalition partners and community groups to build a platform to achieve lasting change.

“Mental health demand increased by more than 70% since the last Government came to power in 2008, but funding has been for less than half of what’s needed,” Polaczuk says. “It took the people using and working in mental health services standing together to achieve this goal, and it will take our continued effort to ensure mental health workers get the funding and resources they need to serve our communities.”

Maternal Care Action Group spokesperson and mum Kristina Paterson says everyone can volunteer in the coalition’s campaign and the support of those not directly impacted is critical.

“The thousands of mums and babies affected by perinatal depression* due to delayed diagnosis and treatment need your help,” Paterson says. “This is our moment, help us and be a part of it.”

The public can sign up to the campaign, volunteer and donate at YesWeCare.nz.

ENDS

For editors

YesWeCare.nz is a new health coalition of health service users and their whanau, people bereaved by suicide, community groups and people working in health and their unions.

The coalition and its members’ campaigns were key to making mental health a key election issue. In the lead up to the election, the health coalition collected more than 150,000 petition signatures, shared a thousand personal stories, took 606 shoes across New Zealand, each representing a kiwi lost to suicide, and got a commitment for an inquiry from every party except National and Act.

Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust ran the first petition calling for an inquiry into our mental health crisis in November 2016. The trust’s latest petition has 85,000 signatures. (http://goo.gl/inb23U).
Hana Ready and YesWeCare.nz’s petition calling for an inquiry after Mrs Ready’s 15-year-old took her life, has 56,000 signatures (http://change.org/mydaughter/)
The People’s Mental Health Report calling for an inquiry collected 500 stories and made four recommendations was signed by more than 10,000 Kiwis including prominent New Zealanders (https://www.peoplesmentalhealthreport.com/)
The Bereaved Whanau Network and the Public Service Association took 600 pairs of shoes, each representing a Kiwi lost in the last year to suicide across New Zealand, in the lead up to the election.
YesWeCare.nz shared a further 500 stories in the media in the lead up to the election.

• Perinatal depression relates to pre and post birth.

Contacts

YesWeCare.nz co-ordinator and media liaison Simon Oosterman is available on 027 526 8704.
ActionStation spokesperson Marianne Elliott is available in Wellington on 021 110 6086, including at Parliament after 4 pm following the announcement.
Bereaved Whanau Network spokesperson Jane Stevens is available for interview in Ngāruawāhia or Hamilton on 021 222 0191.
Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust spokesperson Corinda Taylor is available in Dunedin for 021 293 0094.
Maternal Care Action Group spokesperson Kristina Paterson is available in Auckland on 022 093 1822.
People’s Mental Health Inquiry spokesperson and Psychotherapist Kyle MacDonald is available for interview in Auckland on 021 708 689 between 9 am – 11 am, 12 noon – 1 pm and 3 pm – 6 pm.
PSA National Secretary Erin Polaczuk is available for interview in Wellington on 021 793 075 before 4 pm. PSA National Secretary Glen Barclay will be available for interview on 027 295 5110 outside Parliament at 4 pm following the announcement.

579 shoes, representing each Kiwi lost to suicide in 2016, start their journey to parliament from Whangarei, Auckland and Invercargill today.

The shoes will be setup at the Canopy bridge in Whangarei and the Gala Street entrance to Queens Park in Invercargill from 11am.

A separate collection of shoes will travel around Auckland, starting in Aotea Square at 11am.

Events are listed at: http://facebook.com/yeswecare.nz/events/

The shoes were blessed in Bluff and Cape Reinga yesterday.

They will travel across the country and arrive on parliament grounds on September 10, International Suicide Prevention Day.

The North and South Island collections have shoes for eight children aged 10 to 14, 51 teenagers, 419 adults and 101 older adults over sixty who lost their lives.

70% are men’s shoes.

17 are gumboots for farmers and farm workers.

In each town a bereaved local will share a personal story about loss and the hope they have for a change in government policy.

Each speaker, many who have never shared their story before, will hold a pair of their loved ones shoes.

The YesWeCare.nz health funding coalition and the Public Service Association, New Zealand’s mental health union, is supporting the events.

YesWeCare.nz coordinator Simon Oosterman says bereaved families want politicians to have the courage to put politics aside and “do what’s right”.

“Hearing the number 579 is shocking, seeing 579 empty shoes is something else ,” he says. “Too many of our loved ones are reaching out for help and not getting support because our mental health services are in crisis.”

Oosterman says families are calling for a national suicide reduction target, an urgent independent inquiry into our mental health crisis and restore $2.3b of funding needed to cover our ageing and growing population since 2008.

Jonathan Coleman vetoed setting a suicide reduction target.

National refuses to hold an independent inquiry despite 77% of New Zealanders wanting one, he says.

“The gap between demand and funding is growing as funding hasn’t kept up with our ageing and growing population with increased mental health needs,” he says. “Demand for mental health services have increased by 60% since 2008 with funding to 2017 only increased by half that.”

The Government announced an addition 1.2% in funding in the March Budget.

This includes a $225m fund including $100m for social investment.

But analysis by the doctors union (ASMS) found the Government was only putting $18m of new money in for 2017/18.

Oosterman says with demand expected to be 7.3% this year, the Government has cut funding in real terms even further.

Two bereaved New Zealanders are supporting families in each island.

Jane Stevens, from Waikato, is supporting the North Island events.

Mrs Steven’s son Nicky, 21, went missing from a mental health inpatient unit on 9 March 2015.

His body was found on 12 March.

Diane Hill, from Nelson, is supporting the South Island events.

Mrs Hill lost her husband Jake, 45, on 22 October 2014.

She says her husband, “a typical bloke” who worked up until his death, was also let down by an underfunded mental health system.

Stevens is carrying a pair of her son’s shoes with her across the country and Hill is carrying her husbands work boots.

Oosterman says the campaign will announce which parties support bereaved families political demands on Tuesday 29 August at the Hamilton shoe event.

The event will be held at Nicky Stevens memorial besides the Waikato river where his body was found.

Mrs Stevens and her husband, Waikato DHB board member Dave McPherson, were the first to publicly call for an independent inquiry.

Bereaved families from across the country will meet with politicians face to face on September 11 in an intimate meeting open to the media to talk about loss and their hope for change.

September 11 is the first day of advanced voting.

Volunteers donate shoes across the country.

Shoes will be donated to charity after the roadshow finishes.

ENDS

For editors

Key facts, including suicide numbers by age and gender and region can be found at http://yeswecare.nz/the-shoe-project/facts
Event dates can be found at http://facebook.com/yeswecare.nz/events/
Yes We Care’s six election pledges

​Set a suicide reduction target

​Hold a mental health inquiry
​Restore $2.3b in health funding
​Increase primary health, GP funding
​Commit to safe staffing
Make every home healthy
Contacts

Jane Stevens and Diane Hall and families in each town are available for interview through YesWeCare.nz coordinator Simon Oosterman on 027 526 8704.