This petition holds great personal significance for our family and families who have loved ones with severe long term Mental health problems.

Our brother Mathew has been in the Mental health system for over 22 plus years. We are working in conjunction with another family who’s nephew is also a long term resident at Wakari ward 11 and a patient who also should not be transitioning into the community as well, which the Southern District Health board have in their plan.

Over the last two decades, Mathew has faced the challenges of severe mental illness, requiring stays in various mental health facilities, from acute hospitals to community care centers. Due to his condition and resistance to the anti-psychotic drug Clozapine, transitioning him into community living without endangering himself and others is not feasible. We as family would love the idea of Mathew and other patients to integrate into the community but the reality is it was only a year and a half ago that my brother chocked my mother due to his illness, where she had to lock herself in the bathroom until emergency services could arrive. We as family members would hate for the public to ever experience situations like this.

We are reaching out to the Southern District Health Board (SDHB) with an earnest plea. We implore them not only to reconsider their decision to close Wakari Ward 11 but also to devise a comprehensive plan for relocating current patients like our brother Mathew and and any others who have long term mental health illnesses. Our heartfelt request extends beyond mere relocation; we urge the SDHB to ensure that these patients continue to receive specialized care within a new purpose-built facility on Wakari grounds.

The closure of Wakari Ward 11 would adversely impact countless individuals who rely on the facility's unique approach to holistic health and well-being. These individuals face inherent risks in reintegrating into society due to their specific needs and conditions.

We firmly believe that the SDHB must take accountability for the well-being of these vulnerable members of our community. Our plea is for them to provide the necessary care within a suitable facility, rather than releasing these individuals into environments where they may pose risks to themselves and those around them.
Kindly add your signature to this petition, urging the SDHB not only to reconsider the closure of Wakari Ward 11 but also to take decisive steps to ensure the ongoing provision of high-quality healthcare services in an appropriate and supportive environment.