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Mental Health

St John records 'startling' 30 pct spike in mental health calls to 111

Newly-released data is revealing the impact COVID-19 is having on this country's mental health crisis.

It's been reflected in 111 calls, with St John recording a 30 percent spike in mental health calls alone last year compared to 2020.

St John call centre staff work around the clock, answering back-to-back phone calls and providing people with the care they need.

"On any given day, a call handler will take about 100 calls in their shift. Over the 12 hours, that's quite gruelling," NorthComm Ambulance communications manager Jackson Whitham told Newshub.

Their staff try to answer all calls within 15 seconds, but because of the increased demand, it can often take longer.

"We do see, unfortunately, a lot of abuse towards our staff and that can be incredibly challenging on top of what is already a really stressful job," Whitham says. 

Last year, over 600,000 people rang 111 for an ambulance. A significant proportion of those calls were for mental health, with St John recording a staggering 30 percent increase in 2021 compared with the year before. 

"It's a startling number. I think it paints a really clear picture," Whitham says. 

Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson agrees.

"It's a real indicator of the gaping holes that we have in our response to mental health," he told Newshub. 

"It's the biggest health issue in New Zealand - next to COVID-19 - that's never really been acknowledged for decades," he says. 

Robinson says almost all mental health services in New Zealand are completely overrun.

"[The mental health crisis] is the worst it has ever been. This is a situation that has been mounting for decades. We're not really making headway against the level of need in the community.

"Places like St John, they end up being the service of last resort and they're not a mental health service, just like the Police are not a mental health service."

Robinson says the COVID-19 pandemic has inflamed an already dire situation.

He says there's no quick fix and wants the Government to give it more attention.

"We are starting to make some progress, but it's really important that everybody understands that this issue is so big and so deep… It's a good decade or more before we're really going to see significant change," Robinson says.

"We need the Government to continue to step up and continue to invest and to support all the things that are needed - not just a few of them."

He has advice for anyone struggling and having trouble getting professional help.

"When I was extremely unwell, it was friends and family that were the first line of support. That level of caring about you can actually make a huge difference," he says.

"There are many people like me who were in severe distress at one time but have recovered and gone on to lead good lives.

"Keep trying. Reach out. There is hope - there definitely is hope."

Where to find help and support: