Abuse in State psychiatric care Ngā tūkinotanga i ngā taurimatanga mate hinengaro
This investigation examined the abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults in State psychiatric care in New Zealand. Psychiatric care includes psychiatric hospitals and other facilities, forensic psychiatric services, community psychiatric and rehabilitation services, including residential and non-residential care, as well as voluntary and non-voluntary care.
The Inquiry investigated abuse that occurred from 1950 to 1999, and has the discretion to also consider issues and experiences of abuse before and after that period, up to the present day.
The investigation gathered information about the circumstances of people being taken into psychiatric care, the nature and extent of abuse, why it happened, and the impacts of abuse. It will investigate whether there are any systemic, structural or other factors which contributed to the abuse occurring or which affected the State’s response to abuse.
The scope of investigation into abuse in psychiatric care can be read here.
Case studies
During the investigation the Inquiry identified particular psychiatric institutions and care providers, issues or themes to examine in case studies. Case studies may include public hearings, roundtables, hui and fono. The first case study in the Psychiatric Care investigation examines abuse at the Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit.
Public hearing: Lake Alice Child and Adolescent Unit
This hearing focused on evidence about abuse of children and young people in the care of the Child and Adolescent Unit at Lake Alice psychiatric hospital in the 1970s