Photo: Peter McIntoshA mother who lost her Dunedin son to suicide says a government-led draft suicide prevention strategy is "spineless''. Patrice Harrex, of Oamaru, was spurred to work in mental health as a community worker after her son Brad Anderson (25) committed suicide in 2010. The coroner's report said he received `"sub-optimal care'', but Mrs Harrex blames underfunding, and not mental health staff. `"My son's death inspired me to became a mental health worker in the hope of saving others lives. `"The suicide prevention strategy is spineless without the Government admitting we have a crisis, agreeing to hold an urgent independent inquiry and a commitment to fund what it identifies as needed.''

Source: Otago Daily Times June 25, 2017 23:37 UTC