Brad Strong, who has led the SDHB’s mental health, addictions and intellectual disabilities directorate for four years, will return to his native United States at the end of June.
Dr Strong’s time in the South has not been without controversy, his job meaning he was the public voice of the organisation for issues such as the lengthy waiting times to access mental health services, complaints from judges about the length of time it took to obtain mental health reports, and the SDHB’s response to the investigation into the death of Dunedin man Ross Taylor.
Dr Strong has previously commented about the strain mental health services were under due to resourcing issues.
He has also strongly supported a mental health inquiry — now under way — and called for a target of eliminating suicide to be a policy goal.
"Mental health services have been under intense demand and scrutiny in recent years," Dr Strong said in a statement on Friday.
"Having a society and systems that support people’s wellbeing is a shared challenge, and I will watch the outcomes of the Government’s inquiry into mental health and addiction with interest and optimism."
The SDHB is now recruiting to fill Dr Strong’s position.
"It has been a great privilege to have helped lead this team over the past four years," he said.
Directorate general manager Louise Travers said Dr Strong would be greatly missed for his "wisdom, compassion and enthusiasm, as both a clinician and leader".
