So Govts and societies do it much than others. Give anyone a tick sheet with a list of 10 countries with a breakdown of 1st, 2nd and 3rd world countries to rank known for their humane way of treating their citizens especially the disabled and the incapable and the results will be obvious.
NZ is considered to be kind, gentle and caring society and has agencies galore when it comes to taking care of the poor, the depressed, the looney, the handicapped, the blind, the deaf, the crippled and what have you.
However, not a week goes by when I do not read about how the system has failed, that people fall through the cracks, that agencies are not doing their job, that front line staff are not well trained, that they made matters worse... blah... blah... blah ad nauseum.
This is just an example. I can post more news about the failures of NZ society than I can post images of Sun Ho. They are so much easier to find.
No system can ever save people from themselves.
CYF 'failed' to support girl, 12, found dead - coroner
Published: 11:55AM Friday May 10, 2013 Source: ONE News
Child, Youth and Family failed to provide "adequate support and care" to a 12-year-old girl who killed herself under its watch, a coroner said today.
The damning coroner's report found that CYF "lost" the opportunity to manage the girl's "mental state and/or risk of suicide".
The child, who can only be named as Krystal for legal reasons, was found dead in her bedroom in the foster home she and her sister were staying in, on September 13, 2008. The pair had been moved to a new caregiver following allegations made by Krystal of sexual abuse.
On the night before her death, Krystal had a fight with her sister, and the pair were sent to their room. She was found dead the next morning.
The inquest into her suicide found that psychological assessment of Krystal at the time of the move was "miscalculated" and she was not referred for further support by CYF staff.
Details of her history were also not given to her new caregiver.
In her report, coroner Morag McDowell said "the quality of the care plans in this case fell below standards", and that she was concerned "there appears to have been no 'big picture' assessment of Krystal's situation and what she was experiencing".
"There was a failure to adequately recognise and act upon her emotional/psychological needs, and a failure to provide her with adequate support," she added.
"Krystal was obviously a vulnerable 12-year-old girl facing a number of emotional and psychological stresses....She was described as 'traumatised' by specialist staff (who held concerns for her safety)....It does not appear that these evident stressors were given appropriate consideration and acted upon - which was especially relevant in light of her young age."
In a critical conclusion, coroner McDowell said CYF "did not provide adequate support and care to Krystal, such that the opportunity to manage Krystal's mental state and/or risk of suicide was lost".
"There were obvious and evident stressors and pressures which should have prompted at least closer evaluation of her mental state, and the arrangement (at some level) of psychological support. Responsibility to ensure this occurred rested with Child, Youth and Family.
"I consider that Krystal's case is a tragic reminder to front-line social workers, and those involved in the immediate care of children, of the requirement to be child, rather than process-focussed.
"However, I am satisfied that learnings have been taken from the management of her case, and that steps have been taken to improve the front-line response."
In the report CYF has "accepted there was a failure to ensure that Krystal was provided with appropriate support in response to the level of psychological distress that had been identified".
McDowell highlighted two main areas of concern for CYF to improve on - firstly, the quality of care plans and how they are implemented; and secondly, to work with police to clarify how support and counselling can be given to children providing evidence for criminal proceedings