Lifelines needed for troubled youngsters

Children and young people need dedicated mental health, drug and alcohol services, says an adviser for the Children's Commissioner.

The call follows the Coroner's Court inquest into the deaths of six people aged 15 to 27 years who died after sniffing solvents.

Among them were Haley Danielle Foster, 15, a student of St Mary's College, Wellington, who died in December last year after inhaling air freshener, and Adrian Curtis Hampton 15, a Wainuiomata High student who suffered a cardiac arrest in March after sniffing LPG from a heater.

The hearing has been adjourned.

School principals have told the court about the struggle to find services for young people affected by drugs, alcohol and mental health issues.

Mavis Duncanson, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Children's Commissioner, said the acute shortage of services, especially residential services, was a longstanding problem that needed to be addressed.

There was a growing need for dedicated services that understood the developmental needs of young people, she said.

The services needed to include a range of expertise, including community health workers and nurses.

"Young people have told the office of the trauma of not being able to access services. Young people have also talked about the high risk of suicide, as well as the need for services that are easy to access and confidential," Dr Duncanson said.

- NZPA