Billboards sprung up at the weekend in Health Minister Jonathan Coleman’s electorate challenging the minister over his decision to not launch a mental health inquiry.
The billboards look very similar to the minister’s own campaign billboards with a picture of Coleman and accompanied by the words “77% of Kiwis want a mental health inquiry (But not me) – Dr Jonathan Coleman, Minister of Health”.
Community campaign group ActionStation is responsible for the four large billboards, which are a response to Coleman dismissing the recommendations from The People’s Mental Health Review which was released in April this year.
But Coleman has responded by saying it is that time in the election cycle and said he was standing by his decision not to review the mental health service.
Meanwhile three mothers of young adults lost to suicide have written a letter in support of the YesWeCare.nz coalition campaign’s six health pledges and called for politicians to have the “courage to put aside politics and do what is right for every Kiwi”. The six pledges include setting a suicide reduction target, holding a mental health inquiry and committing to safe staffing.
