Italian Mental Health Reformist Visits NZ
Professor Roberto Mezzina leads the radical mental health services in Trieste, Italy. THis service has just been designated a centre for training and research in mental health by the World Health Organisation.
Services in Trieste rely far less on expensive acute beds, rarely treat people forcibly, do not use ECT, or restraint practices such as seclusion. The service is available to the population of Trieste 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. A report commissioned by the NZ based ARC Group suggests that as well as improving services, adopting some of the practices used in Trieste over the last 30 years, could carve off $100 million from the national mental health bill.