Talking Politics with Sam Uffindell, Tauranga MP

Reflecting the Government’s priority to improve the public services Kiwis rely on, including mental health care, the National-led government has announced five mental health and addiction targets. 

The targets reflect our priorities to increase access to mental health and addiction support, grow the mental health and addiction workforce, strengthen the focus on prevention and early intervention and improve the effectiveness of mental health and addiction support. 

The targets will drive: 

-Faster access to specialist mental health and addiction services: target of 80 per cent of people accessing specialist mental health and addiction services are seen within three weeks.

-Faster access to primary mental health and addiction services: target of 80 per cent of people accessing primary mental health and addiction services through the Access and Choice programme are seen within one week.

-Shorter mental health and addiction-related stays in emergency departments: target of 95 per cent of mental health and addiction-related emergency department presentations are admitted, discharged, or transferred from an emergency department within six hours.

-Increased mental health and addiction workforce development: target of training 500 mental health and addiction professionals each year.

-Strengthened focus on prevention and early intervention: target of 25 per cent of mental health and addiction investment is allocated towards prevention and early intervention 

Timely access to services is crucial to support people’s recovery, help them to live well, and prevent deterioration in their mental health and overall quality of life. 

Achieving better mental health outcomes for New Zealanders will have this government’s relentless attention.