Mental Health & Addiction Update - 28 May 2021

on 31 May

 

In this edition:

  • Repealing and replacing the Mental Health Act
  • Join us to discuss feedback on the direction of the Long-Term Pathway
  • Youth services roll out across Auckland, Northland
  • Insights from Aotearoa’s first Suicide Prevention Office
  • Pink Shirt Day
  • Kiwis take advantage of free mental health helplines
 

Kia ora whānau

Kia ora whānau

The Government recently announced a $200 million package for Support, Recovery and Re-set Plans targeted at five New Zealand communities and the businesses that are part of those communities. The five communities are: Kaikōura, Mackenzie District, Queenstown Lakes, Fiordland, and South Westland.

As a result of COVID-19, these communities were identified because of a high dependence on international tourism on their local economies, and from experiencing significant downturn across their key industries.

Toni Gutschlag Acting Deputy Director-General, Mental Health and Addiction

Toni Gutschlag
Deputy Director-General, Mental Health and Addiction

Part of the package of support for these communities includes $4 million over two years for targeted psychosocial services.

Each community will determine what support it needs, but services may include expert support personnel, community wellbeing events, and mental health first aid training. I’m looking forward to going to Queenstown next week to talk further to the team that is already working hard on initiatives to support the local community.

Finally, it was great to see so many people wearing pink shirts in Wellington last week in support of the Mental Health Foundation’s Pink Shirt Day. As you can see from the photo in this newsletter, even the Director General of Health got involved.

Ngā mihi,
Toni

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