Patea woman with mental health issues claims she was told to toughen up

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/70797996/patea-woman-fears-for-mental-health-services-in-taranaki

Lisa Boutin was taken to Taranaki’s Pathways care centre in early January.

She spent the night with the care centre team, an organisation Boutin says did a fantastic job.

However, she said the next day a key care worker, from the Taranaki District Health Board, visited her and unleashed a barrage of belittling comments, dismissive remarks around a loss of her companion dog, and in essence told her to toughen up.

Formal complaints about Boutin’s treatment have been sent to both the TDHB and Health and Disability Commission.

Boutin, who suffers from bi-polar disorder, Asperger’s syndrome and PTSD, said her experience has led to questions about whether budget constraints influenced the level of care she received.