Jane Stevens 'shocked' zero target on suicides not in mental health report

The mother of a man who took his life while in the care of a mental health facility is disappointed that a comprehensive report into New Zealand's mental health system has a "watered down" the suicide reduction target. The authors of a 200 page report published yesterday want the country to reduce the suicide rate by 20 percent by 2030. The report's recommendations call for a massive expansion to mental health services. The Health Minister, David Clark, is promising significant changes, but says it's too soon to say what they will be. Yesterday we spoke with Jane Stevens, whose son, Nicky, died while he was staying at a Hamilton mental health facility. She had made a submission to the inquiry and spoke to the panel as part of the Bereaved Whanau Network.