Mental health is no longer ``out of sight, out of mind'', the country's head of mental health says.
Mental health director Dr John Crawshaw was in Dunedin yesterday for a workshop on the Ministry of Health's controversial draft suicide prevention plan.
The plan has been slammed by mental health advocate Mike King as too vague and broad to make a difference to the suicide rate.
It comes amid unprecedented scrutiny of mental health service resources, which prompted a Budget boost of $224million over four years.
Speaking to the Otago Daily Times after the workshop, Dr Crawshaw said the public debate would help efforts to prevent suicide.
``What's happened in the past is mental health has been out of sight, out of mind, which is wrong.
``What I'm quite pleased about is mental health is important and is everyone's business, and we want to engage with it, and that I think is positive.''
Dr Crawshaw said he was not happy with increased media reporting of suicide issues, which often focused on the failings of the mental health service.
``That is having a negative impact.''
Dr Crawshaw said a new sector feedback tool showed 80% people who received mental health services were satisfied with their treatment.
Dr Crawshaw rejected a suggestion from the ODT the ministry had failed to provide enough leadership in mental health services, particularly in the GP sector.
``You need to understand that DHBs are the people who provide and contract services. Yes we have been working and providing some guidance.''
Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust chairwoman Corinda Taylor, who attended the workshop, said the plan as proposed was unworkable.
``It needs to be practical; there needs to be standard operating procedures, so people have flow charts to know what they should be doing, and I don't think it's clear.''
Mrs Taylor said she ``absolutely'' agreed with Mr King's criticisms of the draft plan.
Trust member Denise Kent said the plan contained far too much jargon to help people working in the community to prevent suicide.
``We're doing it now, suicide prevention, at Life Matters.''
Last week Mrs Taylor and Ms Kent spoke to Parliament's health select committee to urge politicians to launch a review of mental health services.
