Frontline psychiatrists feel the level of crisis in the public system isn't being recognised

A study in the New Zealand Medical Journal, asks psychiatrists their reasons for leaving the public service.

Many cited excessive workloads, feeling undervalued and safety concerns - and described resistance to change within the system.

Otago University lecturer and psychiatrist Dr Matthew Tennant, says public services have been chronically underfunded and understaffed for years.

He says that's led to people working on the frontline feeling more stretched in the work they're doing.