Message from 198 Youth Health Centre

 

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Youth Health Petition
Call on the Government to provide sustainable funding for Youth Health One Stop Shops and Youth Health Centres.

Cheques can be made out to "Youth Health Trust" or you can donate online here

Youth One Stop Shop Closure Shortsighted
Voxy - 4 May 2010

The closure of 198 Youth Health Centre due to a lack of funding is a sad loss for young people in Christchurch.

"The centre has been operating for 15 years and provided a place where young people could access mental health services in an environment that was specifically for them," says Mental Health Commission Chair Dr Peter McGeorge.

The Mental Health Commission is very supportive of a 'one stop shop' approach for youth health, because recent research has proven them to be very effective. In 2009 the Ministry of Health conducted an evaluation of this approach, which showed positive results and reinforced the positive findings of the Commission in 2008.

Read More>>

Youth health centre to arise from ashes

Representatives from health providers and youth organisations are expected to attend.

Hereford St centre 198 Youth Health, which provides free healthcare for under-25s, will close at the end of next month because of funding cuts.

MPs, health professionals and clients have protested against the closure, saying it would hurt young people.

Hundreds protest health centre closure

TVNZ - ‎Mar 19, 2010‎

The closure of a free health centre for Christchurch's youth brought hundreds out in protest.

They say too many people rely on the 198 Health Centre for it to be denied funding. WATCH the video (1:50)

Centre changed my life, says woman

The Press - Rebecca Todd - ‎Mar 19, 2010‎

Jenna Pamatangi spoke at a rally to save the centre yesterday.

She was among about 500 people at the Latimer Square rally, where Christchurch MPs, staff and clients spoke out against the centre's closure.

 

Radio New Zealand - ‎Mar 19, 2010‎

Several hundred people gathered in Christchurch's Latimer Square at lunchtime on Friday to protest against the closure of a free drop-in health centre for young people.

Listen to Checkpoint report

 

Parliament 18 March 2010

Jacinda Ardern: Does he agree with a recent report on youth health commissioned by the Ministry of Health, which found general providers "were not being accessed by youth" but in contrast "Youth One Stop Shops" successfully provide a range of specialised, integrated health and social care services for the youth of New Zealand, and many are at capacity; if so, why is he allowing services in Christchurch and Invercargill to face closure on his watch?

Hon TONY RYALL: Yes, quite right. In respect of the 198 Youth Health Centre contracted by the Canterbury District Health Board, I have personally been in touch with the chairman, Mr Alister James, who is taking a personal interest in this cause. Mr James advises me that the district health board still has $410,000 earmarked to assist this service, and discussions are ongoing.

 

Save 198 Youth Health Centre
Scoop.co.nz (Progressive Party press release) 18 March 2010
The services provided by the 198 Youth Health Centre over the last 10 years have played a critical part in the mental and physical well-being of tens of thousands of our most vulnerable young citizens, local Wigram MP, Jim Anderton said today.

 

Christchurch Youth Health Centre closes shop

ONE News | March 05, 2010

A trailblazing health service which treats thousands of at-risk youth in Christchurch is being forced to shut its doors.

After 15 years, the centre, which provides free medical, sexual and mental health services for those under 25, says it is financially insolvent and can no longer operate.

For patients such as Lisa Broomhall, it is a bit of a shock.

"It's free healthcare here (Youth Health Centre). Being on a benefit - it's hard to go to the doctor every time, when you have to go every week," she say.

The Christchurch Youth Health Centre receives 7000 young people for help and treatment each year, that amount is all they are funded to cope with. But the reality, they say, is that the funding is not enough as they have to routinely turn away 5-10 patients each day.

Founding Doctor Sue Bagshaw says the government, through the Canterbury DHB, changed their funding system last year. They have cut into the $700,000 the service needed to stay open.

Read More>>

WATCH the video(2:01)

 

Lack of funding forces youth health centre to close doors

The Press - ‎Mar 5, 2010‎

Christchurch's free youth health drop-in centre will close next month amid fears some of the city's most vulnerable young people will fall outside the system.

 

Christchurch's 198 Youth Health Centre to Close

Scoop.co.nz (press release) - ‎10 March 2010

Christchurch's 198 Youth Health Centre (the Centre), which was established in 1995 and has delivered holistic health services to people between the ages of 10 to 25 years ever since, will be closing on 30 April due to a lack of funding.

Dr Sue Bagshaw, senior doctor and founder of the Centre, says that in recent years there has been no cost of living increase in the Centre's funding, which has meant an effective cut in income. In the last year, there has been a change in the way funding has been delivered, which has also led to a decrease in running costs. Read Full Release>>

 

Ryall can save Christchurch youth health service

Scoop.co.nz (press release) - ‎10 March 2010

Health Minister Tony Ryall should step in to prevent Christchurch's 198 Youth Health Centre from closing its doors permanently

 

Youth health centre faces closure
Radio New Zealand - 11 March 2010
The founder of a free youth health centre in Christchurch says many of its patients can't afford to pay to see a GP and its closure would put thousands of young people at risk.
The 198 Centre is facing bankruptcy after a funding shortfall this year, and may have to close at the end of April. Read More>>

 

Christchurch youth 'will suffer'

Stuff.co.nz - Rebecca Todd - ‎12 March 2010

SEEKING HELP: Michael Koefman, 23, says Christchurch's youth health centre provides a vital service for young people.

 

Mental Health Foundation Deeply Concerned About Youth Health Centre Closure

Voxy - ‎11 March 2010

The Mental Health Foundation is concerned about the forthcoming closure of a youth health centre in Christchurch, due to a lack of funding.

 

AIDS FOUNDATION: GRAVE RISK FOR YOUTH IF 198 YOUTH HEALTH CENTRE CLOSES

The New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) is warning of serious repercussions for the health of young New Zealanders with the closure of the 198 Youth Health Centre in Christchurch. The 198 Youth Health Centre treats more than 7000 young people every year but will close as a result of funding cuts.

One third of 198 Youth Health Centre's young patients seek help for sexual health issues, and another third for issues with mental health, two areas for which research shows young people are far less likely to go to their family doctor.

Simon Harger-Forde, NZAF Director HIV Prevention and Communications says, "the young people who are most at risk will simply miss out on health care. Young people have disproportionately high rates of STIs and suicide. Marginalised young people, like gay and bisexual youth, are even more at risk of sexual and mental ill-health and also have lower rates of accessing health care from a GP. Closing the 198 Youth Health Centre means there may well be more young people with STIs and those STIs will go untreated for longer."

Read Full Release>>

 

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