Dunedin rally against mental health cuts

  • 17/04/2016
(Stop the Cuts to Southern Mental Health)
(Stop the Cuts to Southern Mental Health)

A rally was being held in Dunedin today against further cuts nation-wide to mental healthcare.

Activist group Stop the Cuts to Southern Mental Health spokesperson Scout Barbour-Evans says the Ministry of Health is cutting hospital services without ensuring there are community services "to take the slack".

"As soon as healthcare funding cuts are announced, we get anxious, because mental healthcare is thrown under the bus every single cut. We've had enough."

The group was formed last year. They chained themselves to the fence outside the Psychiatric Services Building at Dunedin Hospital two weeks ago, protesting against the Community Day Programmes to Wakari Hospital.

"We have members of our community dying without absolute basic support," says Mx Barbour-Evans.

Dunedin rally against mental health cuts

(Newshub.)

The rally began at 12pm at the dental school, and ended at the Octagon.

Community members are expected to speak about their personal experiences and knowledge on the topic.

Newshub.