Desperate Norsewood farmer urges better care for those with mental health issues

Mayor Tracey Collis in her office with Norsewood farmer Rex Rosacker, after he pleaded with the MidCentral District Health Board to do more for the mentally ill.

Some days it takes brave people to speak out about mental health and suicide and this week that brave person is Norsewood dairy farm owner Rex Rosacker.

As Labour Party leader Andrew Little released figures on Tuesday indicating police were spending 600 hours a day dealing with mental health-related callouts, Mr Rosacker was pleading with the MidCentral District Health Board for better care of those with mental-health issues.

"I've had a family member needing help and I asked the police, but they weren't able to do anything because he hadn't done a crime," Mr Rosacker said.

"He needed help because of the dreadful drug, meth, but mental health services couldn't help and said they couldn't admit him to hospital until he threatened taking his own life.

"The next day he attempted suicide and I had to rescue him.

"This time when I rang the police they came and took him away in a straightjacket in the police car with an armed officer."

Police asked the MidCentral mental health team to assess the man.

"At 1am he rang me. He had been assessed, there was nothing wrong, they said, and he was coming home.

"But I had to meet the police halfway between Dannevirke and Palmerston North.

"I know when somebody isn't quite right, they're only going to tell you what you want to hear. And no one gets right in four hours.

"You have got to look at this, or there are going to be more and more under the ground.

"I'm lucky my family member is still alive."

In an earlier incident, the Armed Offenders Squad had been called to the farm.

As he held back tears, Mr Rosacker said he appreciated there were financial pressures on the mental-health system, but begged the district health board members to look at the services they delivered.

"Why assess them and let them go?"

Kathryn Cook, chief executive of MidCentral Health, said mental health was a real priority, and that there had to be fundamental changes.

Health board chairwoman Dot McKinnon agreed.

"Mental health issues are going to be greater [for us] than those associated with our ageing population," she said.

Norsewood's Kathryn Mulinder sympathised with Mr Rosacker.

"People are seen, assessed and sent home from MidCentral and in a few days they're dead," she said.

"There's no follow-up and these aren't isolated incidents."

Tararua District Mayor Tracey Collis hugged Mr Rosacker and said he was "absolutely courageous in telling his story".

"It's been extremely powerful."

Mr Rosacker told the Dannevirke News, "it's the pain people [who commit suicide] leave behind. I've dismissed three staff for being on meth and then one took his own life three weeks later and I got the blame".

"I'm very concerned about those dairy farmers milking lots of cows, up at 2.30am and still going at 7pm. Some take stuff . . . "

Now, at a big cost to himself, Mr Rosacker carries out regular hair-follicle drug testing of his staff.

His family member is now receiving ongoing counselling.

The numbers: Income Inequality Aotearoa New Zealand Inc-Closing the Gap says there are currently between 5000 and 4000 children (those up to 14 years of age) and between 43,000-64,000 young adults who experience depression in New Zealand each year (formally diagnosed).

Where to get help:
*Lifeline (open 24/7) - 0800 543 354.

* Depression Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 111 757.

* Healthline (open 24/7) - 0800 611 116.

* Samaritans (open 24/7) - 0800 726 666.

* Suicide Crisis Helpline (open 24/7) - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.

* Youthline (open 24/7) - 0800 376 633. You can also text 234 for free between 8am and midnight, or email talk@youthline.co.nz

* 0800 WHATSUP children's helpline - phone 0800 9428 787 between 1pm and 10pm on weekdays and from 3pm to 10pm on weekends. Online chat is available from 7pm to 10pm every day at www.whatsup.co.nz

* Kidsline (open 24/7) - 0800 543 754. This service is for children aged five to 18. Those who ring between 4pm and 9pm on weekdays will speak to a Kidsline buddy. These are specially trained teenage telephone counsellors.

* Rural Support Trust - 0800 787 254 (0800 RURAL HELP).

* Alcohol Drug Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 787 797. You can also text 8691 for free.

* Anxiety phone line - 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY).