Copy
Public Health Matters - your guide to public health in the news

Kia ora e hoa

There’s a lot of media focus on mental health recently - for good reason. Family and community anguish about the apparent failure of services when people die in avoidable circumstances (Mother seeks compensation for son’s death. Radio NZ News) is matched by the shock of experienced clinicians like Dr Murray Patton when faced with the methamphetamine epidemic in Northland (Meth use big factor in psychosis admissions. Radio NZ News)

We seem to be experiencing yet another cycle of desperation as we did back in the 1990s, when Judge Mason’s 1996 Report into this troubled health sector demanded that the Government of the day to give the sector a lot more money and set up the Mental Health Commission to monitor how it was spent. Twenty years later we know so much more about the roots of mental illness in childhood and adolescence, and media campaigns like the National Depression Initiative and Like Minds Like Mine have raised awareness of how we can all support people going through tough times. But the health sector is still very focussed on helping people when they’re already distressed and not taking the public health approach advocated by people like Sir John Kirwan (Former All Black Sir John Kirwan lifts lid on mental illness in sport. Sport - NZ Herald).

Promoting mental health, preventing suicide and responding to addiction all need public health approaches. 

Smart schools are recognising that 'life skills’ are as important as 'thinking skills - whether that’s in preparation for a business career (ACG: 'Human skills' needed before business skills - ACG - NZ Herald News) or resilience for when "things might not go to plan" as Kirwan puts it. 

Te Pou’s Equally Well is a group of people and organisations with the common goal of reducing physical health disparities between people who experience mental health and addiction problems, and people who don’t.

All Right? is a Healthy Christchurch initiative led by the Canterbury District Health Board and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand recommended by Sir Peter Gluckman  "to allow their innate psychological resilience and coping mechanisms to come to the fore".
 
"Mental health is an essential building block of health and is directly related personal family and community well-being” (Companion to Primary Care Mental Health. World Organisation of Family Doctors, 2012).  

We need to work more closely together on this.

Warren

Donate to the PHA
Help! The PHA needs to raise $50,000 to support our work advocating for good public health, supporting the workforce and developing events to strengthen public health action. Please consider donating to us or running a fundraising event.

The Lens 2017

For this year’s issue of our special publication The Lens we're planning to join forces with another organisation (details to be revealed at a later date - watch this space!) to focus on water. It’s an important public health issue and there is a lot of interest in it, especially after the campylobacter outbreak last year in Hawkes Bay, and growing concern generally over the state of our water in New Zealand.

We would love to hear from you if you are interested in contributing to this special issue of The Lens. Are you doing research on any aspect of water? Do you work in an area where water is a major focus? We’d like to have a broad range of contributors to cover the spectrum of issues listed above and we are aiming to have some shorter articles and some more in-depth longer articles. Please get in touch by emailing libby@pha.org.nz if you are interested in contributing or need more information.

PHA Conference 2017: 2-4 October 2017. Save the date. Abstract submissions open soon.

ANZJPH now available online with open access!

We are delighted to announce that The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (ANZJPH) is now available online with open access.

Some of the highlights from the February issue include:

  • Closing the Aboriginal child injury gap: targets for injury prevention - Holger Moller et al.
  • Serve sizes and frequency of food consumption in Australian children aged 14 and 24 months - Chelsea Mauch et al.
  • The association between exposure to interpersonal violence and suicide among women: a systematic review - Michael B. Maclsaac et al.
  • Challenges in managing a school-based measles outbreak in Melbourne, Australia 2014 - Katherine B. Gibney et al.
  • Adolescent inhalant abuse leads to other drug use and impaired growth; implications for diagnosis - Rose Crossin et al.

We encourage our members to submit articles and keep up to date with developments in the field of public health research, with complete issues available in the ANZJPH App available for Android and iPhone.

In this week's Public Health Matters:
Join the PHA
Give to the PHA
PHA Newsletters

Public Health in the News

Mental Health

Mother seeks compensation for son's death | Radio New Zealand News
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/324998/mother-seeks-compensation-for-son's-death
A mother taking Wellington's district health board to court says her case is a landmark one that could mean more people are able to seek reparation over deaths in state care.

Former All Black Sir John Kirwan lifts lid on mental illness in sport - Sport - NZ Herald News
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11804708
"We need to teach mental health in the schools. We teach them maths and science, but not that things might not go to plan and you need to have your mental health in order."

Study shows refugees’ & immigrants’ resilience in disasters | Scoop News
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1702/S00095/study-shows-refugees-immigrants-resilience-in-disasters.htm
Many immigrants and refugees were resilient to the Canterbury Earthquakes due to their previous experiences of disasters and war in their homelands, according to research from the University of Auckland.

Cantabrians encouraged to take action for mental wellbeing | Scoop News
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1702/S00097/cantabrians-encouraged-to-take-action-for-mental-wellbeing.htm
The All Right? campaign was set up to help people in Greater Christchurch recover from the emotional effects of the earthquakes and related stressors.

First social bond to focus on mental health | Scoop News
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1702/S00285/first-social-bond-to-focus-on-mental-health.htm
New Zealand’s first social bond will help around 1700 people with mental illness into work, Finance Minister Steven Joyce and Social Investment Minister Amy Adams say.

Housing NZ boss defends meth eviction campaign | Radio New Zealand News
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/324082/housing-nz-boss-defends-meth-eviction-campaign
Housing New Zealand's chief executive has defended the agency's meth eviction campaign, denying it ignored ministry advice.

Wealthy not immune to meth 'epidemic' in Waikato | Radio New Zealand News
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/324950/wealthy-not-immune-to-meth-'epidemic'-in-waikato
Methamphetamine dealers in Waikato are targeting wealthier families to make more money, a drug rehabilitation worker says.

Meth use big factor in psychosis admissions | Radio New Zealand News
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/324963/meth-use-big-factor-in-psychosis-admissions
Methamphetamine users make up 50 percent of young men admitted to Whangarei hospital's mental health unit, a Northland psychiatrist says.

Social perception in mild cognitive impairment | Scoop News
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1702/S00089/social-perception-in-mild-cognitive-impairment.htm
As the population of older people increases, so too does the prevalence of dementia. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a relatively new concept which identifies people who are at a risk of developing dementia.

Influence of Peer-Based Needle Exchange Programs on Mental Health Status in People Who Inject Drugs: A Nationwide New Zealand Study
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5241304/
These findings demonstrate for the first time an association between access to peer support at PBNEs and positive indices of mental health, lending strong support to the effective integration of such peer-delivered NEP services into the network of mental health services for PWID worldwide.

Society

ACG: 'Human skills' needed before business skills - ACG - NZ Herald News
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/acg/news/article.cfm?c_id=1504055&objectid=11761337
Ask a business person and a sociologist what they consider the most important skills to teach teenagers - and you might expect quite different answers.

Human rights watchdog flags concerns over refugees and treatment of disabled man - National - NZ Herald News
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11805630
The treatment of intellectually disabled man Ashley Peacock's case at a Porirua mental health unit has been included in Amnesty International's annual global report on human rights abuses.

Living wage put at $20.20 an hour | Radio New Zealand News
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/324968/living-wage-put-at-$20-point-20-an-hour
The rate, more than $4 above the adult minimum wage, is at the level needed to provide families with the necessities, they say.

Pacific Disability Forum's focus on more inclusive Pacific | Radio New Zealand News
http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/324972/pacific-disability-forum's-focus-on-more-inclusive-pacific
The Pacific Disability Forum is meeting in Samoa this week to focus on building a more inclusive and equitable Pacific for people with disabilities.

Closing down Cadbury's bad news | Mediawatch | Radio New Zealand
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/201833615/closing-down-cadbury's-bad-news
News of the Cadbury factory's closure came as a big blow in Dunedin this week - especially for those likely to lose their jobs. But they weren't able to tell the media how they felt about it.

Insight: Unleashing the Potential of South Auckland | Insight | Radio New Zealand
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/insight/audio/201833334/insight-unleashing-the-potential-of-south-auckland
A group of South Auckland entrepreneurs say there needs to be more support for new business ideas, and creative talent if the social and economic potential of the area is to be unleashed.

Oral Health
Mobile dental unit a boost for teeth - Horowhenua Chronicle - Wanganui Chronicle News

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/horowhenua-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503788&objectid=11804746
A new state-of-the-art mobile dental unit for kids and young people has joined MidCentral District Health Board's fleet, to spread healthy grins throughout the district.

Sexual Health

Mr Gay NZ defends his view that having unprotected sex with HIV can be safe - National - NZ Herald News
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11804680
The new Mr Gay New Zealand, who is HIV positive, is defending having unprotected sex, saying he always informs sexual partners of his health status.

More than half NZers back legalising abortion - survey | Radio New Zealand News
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/324887/more-than-half-nzers-back-legalising-abortion-survey
More than 50 percent of people think an abortion should be legal if the woman does not want to be a mother or cannot afford another child, a new survey shows.

Obesity
Coca-Cola NZ's sales up in 2016 - Business - NZ Herald News

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11805526
Coca-Cola Amatil's New Zealand business generated bigger annual earnings in 2016 as the local bottler of Coke-branded drinks ramped up sales volumes with skinnier margins as part of a strategy launched three years ago.

Opinion: Obesity battle on all fronts - Opinion - NZ Herald News
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11804824
The call from the University of Auckland's Professor Boyd Swinburn comes as researchers say sophisticated marketing methods, such as cookies and advert-linked gaming, are being used by food websites to target children.

Strength training carries weight for obese teens | Scoop News
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1702/S00093/strength-training-carries-weight-for-obese-teens.htm
That’s according to Lincoln University Sport and Recreation Associate Professor Mike Hamlin, who has evaluated existing research on how exercise affects adolescents with weight issues.

Environment

NZers believe fresh water resources in poor state - survey | Radio New Zealand News
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/324808/nzers-believe-fresh-water-resources-in-poor-state-survey
Lincoln University has released its 8th Public Perceptions of New Zealand's Environment survey, the only one of its type in the world.

Swimmable, not wadeable: Greens deliver freshwater petition | Radio New Zealand News
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/325101/swimmable,-not-wadeable-greens-deliver-freshwater-petition
The Green Party has delivered a message to the government calling for the standard for freshwater to be raised from wadeable to swimmable.

Editorial: Pressure on national parks needs action - Politics - NZ Herald News
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11803812
There are, clearly, mechanisms which could help better manage pressures arising from tourism - and sustain the appeal of our natural assets. What is needed is urgency in implementing them.

Inequality

Study uncovers widespread worker abuse - The University of Auckland
http://www.business.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/news-and-media/news-stories/uabs-monthly-newsletter/uabs-monthly-newsletter-2017/02/study-uncovers-widespread-worker-abuse.html
Some employees in New Zealand are working 80 to 90-hour weeks for just $500; others are being paid for half the hours they work, or working for free to “buy” permanent residency, a new study reveals.

Super Fund CEO gets 23% pay rise despite objections | Radio New Zealand News
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/324940/super-fund-ceo-gets-23-percent-pay-rise-despite-objections
The Prime Minister has put the board of the New Zealand Super Fund on notice, after it approved a significant, 23 percent pay increase for its chief executive, Adrian Orr.

Pharmac considers funding sanitary products | Radio New Zealand News
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/324865/pharmac-considers-funding-sanitary-products
The government funding agency has received an application for it to subsidise sanitary products and hopes to report back shortly.

Infrastructure

NZ Herald editorial: Disasters need a national response - National - NZ Herald News
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11804225
Ironically, while the fire was still raging around Christchurch last Wednesday evening, MPs in Wellington were debating the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill that, in the words of its sponsoring minister, Peter Dunne, is about, "bringing together rural, urban, volunteer and paid firefighters into one national organisation for the first time".

Air ambulance services centralised | Scoop News
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1702/S00090/air-ambulance-services-centralised.htm
A two-year long trial to centralise the co-ordination and dispatch of national air ambulance helicopter services will get underway today.

People’s Commission on Public Broadcasting & Media launches | Scoop News
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1702/S00267/peoples-commission-on-public-broadcasting-media-launches.htm
“We need trusted independent journalism providing citizens with the information they need to participate meaningfully in our democracy,” says panelist Kay Ellmers.

Andrew Dickens: Politicians made a pig's ear of the infrastructure development in New Zealand - Politics - NZ Herald News
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11803934
This week, National mooted an Urban Development Authority. I'd like to moot a non-partisan, nationwide, expert and practical Infrastructure Development Authority to come up with a 50-year plan that actually works.

Water

Extreme weather puts 'huge stress' on water infrastructure | Radio New Zealand News
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/324007/extreme-weather-puts-'huge-stress'-on-water-infrastructure
Extreme weather due to climate change is going to put more pressure on drinking water infrastructure, leading to more boil notices and e-coli scares, says a public health professor.

Lake Taupō closed after another sewage spill | Radio New Zealand News
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/324064/lake-taupo-closed-after-another-sewage-spill
The Taupō District Council said a pipe failure caused a large overflow this morning near the Kowhai Road pumping station at Rainbow Point, near Taupō.

Semi-treated wastewater pumped into harbour | Radio New Zealand News
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/324848/semi-treated-wastewater-pumped-into-harbour
The Manukau Harbour Restoration Society is calling for more transparency on the amount of partially-treated wastewater that is pumped into the harbour.

Nutrition

Meat-eaters are twice as likely to get diabetes - research - Lifestyle - NZ Herald News
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11803718
Vegans are at lower risk of developing diabetes, new research suggests.
Consuming animal products doubles someone's risk of developing the potentially fatal condition, scientists claim.

Child Health

Social worker shortage leaving children at risk, say lawyers | Radio New Zealand News
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/324857/social-worker-shortage-leaving-children-at-risk,-say-lawyers
It comes two years after an internal review recommended CYF review social workers' caseloads and look at increasing the number of front-line social workers

Upcoming Events

Voices - Vision - Action. 15th World Congress on Public Health. 3-7 April 2017. Melbourne, Australia. 

Indigenous Diversity Forum. 5 May 2017. Wellington.

Working Together. Inspiring Change. 7th Activity and Nutrition Aotearoa conference. 30-31 May 2017. Wellington.

PHA Māori Public Health Symposium. June 2017. Auckland. Registration details to come.

Valuing Connections, Connecting Values. Ō Tātou Kaha, Ō Tātou Pae Ora. The PHA Conference 2017. 2-4 October 2017. Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Global Alcohol Policy Conference (co-hosted by GAPA and Australian PHA). 4-6 October 2017. Melbourne, Australia. 

Please update your preferences to make sure you're getting our free email newsletters. 

Contributions to our newsletters

Members and friends of the PHA are welcome to submit articles for inclusion in the PHA Newsletters and Website. Please visit our website for more information. 

Advertising of events, job vacancies, conferences and courses are subject to a fee. Please see our 
sponsors and partners page. We reserve the right to waive this fee for our strategic partners. We usually include free events in our newsletter without charging a fee.

Please contact us at comms@pha.org.nz with your contributions or questions.
Copyright © 2017 Public Health Association of New Zealand | Kāhui Hauora Tūmatanui, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp