Selwyn Times: October 23, 2019

SELWYN TIMES Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Wednesday October 23 2019 7
News
Booth’s fight to get better
mental health services not over yet
• By Devon Bolger and Georgia
O’Connor-Harding
GEOFF BOOTH is not giving up
on his fight to get better mental
health services in Canterbury.
THe Greendale resident was
unsuccessful in his bid for a seat
on the Canterbury District Health
Board at the local body elections.
For nearly two years, he has
been battling to seek answers from
health authorities after losing his
21-year-old son Liam to suspected
suicide in 2017.
But his fight to get better mental
health care and to raise awareness
about suicide will continue.
Mr Booth is now planning to
create a national political party to
advocate for families who have lost
loved ones to suicides.
He said the party would be made
up of families affected by suicide.
Over the next couple of months,
Mr Booth will be looking at a
strategy, multi-media platforms to
launch the party on and securing
financial backing.
Mr Booth said if he can get the
political party “off the ground” he
believes he will have a good chance
at running at the next CDHB elections.
Mr Booth said he felt the reason
he wasn’t elected was due to not
having a large enough profile –
compared to well-known elected
members Jo Kane and James
Gough.
“It was a tough ask but it was
worth trying to see whether I
could get in. I am certainly keen to
have another try,” he said.
He said this term the CDHB
needs to get more services and facilities
in place so people can get the
wrap-around services they need.
“The time for talk is over, they
need to put boots on the ground.”
It was reported in August the
number of suicides in New Zealand
has reached its highest-ever
level, with 685 people dying in the
year to June 30.
The statistics released by Chief
Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall
showed an increase in the number
of young people dying – especially
those aged 15 to 19-years-old as
numbers rose from 53 to 73.
FIGHT: Geoff Booth has been
unsuccessful in his bid for a
place in the CDHB but is now
planning a national political
party to advocate for families
who have lost loved ones to
suicide.
WHERE TO GET
HELP:
If you are worried
about your own or
someone else’s
mental health, visit
your GP or local
mental health
provider. However,
if you or someone
else is in danger
or endangering
others, phone police
immediately on
111. Or if you need
someone to talk to
phone:
•LIFELINE: 0800 543
354 (available 24/7)
•SUICIDE CRISIS
HELPLINE: 0508
828 865 (0508
TAUTOKO) (available
24/7)
•YOUTHLINE: 0800
376 633
•NEED TO TALK?
Free call or text 1737
(available 24/7)
•KIDSLINE: 0800
543 754 (available
24/7)
•WHATSUP: 0800
942 8787 (1pm to
11pm)
•DEPRESSION
HELPLINE: 0800 111
757
In Brief
ELECTRICAL FIRE
A dryer cord sparked a fire at a
house in Rolleston on Wednesday
morning. Lincoln and Rolleston
fire crews were called to the
fire on Springston-Rolleston
Rd at 7.28am. The fire had been
extinguished by the occupant
of the house by the time crews
arrived. The house was not
damaged. Meanwhile, a tractor
was damaged after it caught on
fire on a roadside. The Rakaia
volunteer fire brigade was called
to the incident on Rakaia Selwyn
Rd at about 10am on Monday.
The tractor was “well engulfed”
by the time firefighters arrived.
FINAL ELECTION RESULTS
Final results for the local body
elections were released on
Thursday. There were no changes
to those who had been elected
based on preliminary results.
Sophie McInnes has secured a
spot representing the Selwyn
Central Ward after finishing 13
votes ahead of Michelle Jones
who was only seven votes behind
before special votes were counted.
Mrs McInness is one of three
elected first-time councillors
alongside Jenny Gallagher in the
Malvern Ward and Shane Epiha
in the Ellesmere Ward.
Kerbside Collection
Time Change
SAFER SPEED REVIEWS
West Melton
We’re changing the time that you need to have
your wheelie bins, bags and crates kerbside.
From Monday 4 November, all Selwyn
residents will need to ensure that all rubbish,
recycling and organics are out by 6.30am.
For collection information,
visit selwyn.govt.nz/rubbish
HAVE YOUR SAY ON SAFER SPEEDS
Public consultations 21 October – 15 November 2019
The NZ Transport Agency is proposing a safer speed limit
in West Melton on State Highway 73.
Before we make a decision we want to hear from you.
Find out more and make
formals submission at
www.nzta.govt.nz/
Canterbury-speed-review
Or, if you’d like us to
send you a consultation
form, call 0800 44 44 49
nzta.govt.nz