74071 (2024). Ingrid Leary to the Minister for Mental Health

74071 (2024). Ingrid Leary to the Minister for Mental Health: Is the Minister aware of psychologist Dr Renan Lopes de Lyra's recent PhD research, into paramedics experiences with suicide callouts, that "they were often surprised to find the people they transported to hospital were discharged without any apparent treatment plan in place. This left them feeling frustrated and helpless, particularly when they were called out to attend the same patient in subsequent shifts"; if so, what, if anything, will he do to address this?

Hon Matt Doocey: I am advised by Health New Zealand that anyone who seeks assistance from an emergency department or directly from a mental health services following an act of self-harm, irrespective of intent, or who is expressing suicidal ideation, is evaluated by a suitably trained clinician. This assessment will be followed by the development of an individualised management plan aimed at reducing further risk of self-harm. I am further advised that treatment can be successfully given in community settings, and that hospital admission is not always indicated following self-harm, and in some instances may be detrimental and therefore not clinically appropriate. These factors may contribute to the misconception that people are discharged without suitable treatment plans in place.