Learning from the COVID-19 pandemic can help support the
mental health and wellbeing of communities recovering from
Cyclone Gabrielle. This is according to today’s Te Hiringa
Mahara – the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission report,
Supporting
wellbeing after a crisis.
“Crises like the
pandemic have shown us that re-establishing and
strengthening the social infrastructure that supports
connection and communities is key to supporting wellbeing,”
says Te Hiringa Mahara Chief Executive Karen
Orsborn.
“We can expect rates of distress and
addiction to increase, and the support people need will be
required for some time. We will need an immediate investment
in local mental health and addiction services, which must
not have a time limit on availability for people who need
them.
“Social infrastructure should be prioritised –
this includes ensuring local social hubs, such as marae and
libraries, are up and running; putting face-to-face supports
such as carer and social worker visits in place; opening
schools; and ensuring the community services and volunteers
reaching into communities are supported.”
Te Hiringa
Mahara welcomes recent funding and support announced for
local communities and marae. Investing in and
re-establishing social infrastructure will help re-establish
a sense of community and enough resilience to mitigate many
of the worst mental health, addiction, and wellbeing effects
of any future crises. It will also provide a safety net for
some of our most vulnerable.
“To help impacted
communities during and beyond the recovery, we call on the
government to continue to work with iwi and community
organisations; to prioritise investment in re-building
social infrastructure and digital connectivity; to build
service capability and capacity with a focus on long-term
primary and community options; and to keep watch on the most
disadvantaged and impacted communities over the short,
medium, and long term.
“Only by actively involving and
empowering those who experience disadvantage, can we ensure
a fair recovery for
all.”
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