Shining a light on the shocking state of NZ’s acute mental health units

This article was first published here.

A series published by news and current affairs website Newsroom highlights the findings of a major research project led by Director of the Suicide and Mental Health Research Group, Dr Gabrielle Jenkin, into the architectural design and social environment of New Zealand’s acute mental health facilities.

Dr Jenkin’s ground-breaking 4-year research project, funded by a Marsden Fast-Start Grant, detailed the shocking state of the country’s inpatient adult mental health units, finding staff often reduced to delivering a ‘meds and beds’ service in rundown, dilapidated buildings.

Dr Gabriel Jenkin. Photo / University of Otago

This series of articles by journalist Oliver Lewis discusses some of her findings:

• ‘Dilapidated’ mental health units undermining care
• Mental health unit overcrowding a torture convention breach
• Mental health units should provide more than ‘meds and beds’
• New Zealand's first ‘new wave’ mental health unit

The major themes of the series are also discussed on RNZ's The Detail podcast:

Housing the mentally ill when the roof is caving in

Dr Jenkin has been interviewed on RNZ's Nine To Noon about her research:

Some were horrible’ – New research into mental health units