The Wire with Rosetta

The mental health system continues to be overloaded, with approximately five hundred thousand people not being able to access the support they need. Experts have discussed the need to lessen the burden on our overloaded system, through preventative strategies.  

Olivia spoke to Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Canterbury, Julia Rucklidge, about the need for a preventative approach to mental health, and strategies we can take to improve it.

Many have criticised the housing sector as being largely inequitable, with people with impairments lacking the support they need, and often facing discrimination. 

Olivia spoke to Chief Executive of Tiaho Trust - Disability a Matter of Perception, Jonny Wilkinson, about the need for improving accessibility in the housing sector, and his personal experience. 

Lifewise is an organisation that helps people out of homelessness by providing stable housing and wrap-around support for issues like addiction, mental health, and disability. 

Their program Housing First houses nearly 500 people across Aotearoa, and has a retention rate of over 90%. 

Lifewise is calling on the government to form a ten-year plan that will help address the housing shortage and alleviate homelessness. 

Arno spoke to Lifewise COO Ann-Marie Searchfield to find out more. 

Arno then spoke to The Salvation Army director Ian Hutson. 

The Salvation Army provides emergency, transitional and social housing across New Zealand. 

They recently met with several parties to iron down a plan to build more state houses.

News and Editorial Director Jessica Hopkins spoke to Green Party Co-Leader James Shaw about the National Party’s foreign buyers tax policy, and the renters advocacy group, Renters United, scorecards ranking the major political parties on their policies for renters.

She also spoke to architect and director of academic reviews at University of Auckland, Professor Diane Brand, about the Chip Packet Project and addressing homelessness.

Nicholas spoke to Eihmin O’Shea from Renters United about National’s No Cause Evictions Policy and their recently released political party scorecards.

Arno interviewed Lifewise COO Ann-Marie Searchfield and Salvation Army Director Ian Hutson about reducing homelessness and the housing shortage.