Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health
The Mental Health and Addiction Year in Review outlines the progress made by the Ministry of Health in the first year of delivering to He Ara Oranga: Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction and the Budget 19’s mental health, wellbeing and addiction initiatives.
The document outlines the activities delivered in year one to lay the foundations for change as well as building momentum that will enable new services to get up and running.
It focuses on the four key areas set out in the Government’s response:
- establishing the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission
- repealing and replacing the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 (the Mental Health Act)
- focusing on wellbeing and early intervention by expanding access and choice of primary mental health and addiction support
- developing a national suicide prevention strategy and establishing a Suicide Prevention Office.
The year in review document also details the Government’s psychosocial response to COVID-19 which is led by the Ministry of Health. The Kia Kaha, Kia Māia, Kia Ora Aotearoa – COVID-19 Psychosocial and Mental Wellbeing Recovery Plan provides a national approach to supporting the mental and social wellbeing of New Zealanders in the COVID-19 recovery period.
