26 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1051 views
The New Zealand government is funding Whakarongorau to develop a mental health AI navigation platform that will help people easily find and access available mental health services, including telehealth and in-person options. This digital tool aims to reduce barriers by guiding users to appropriate support, offering online resources, and enabling direct bookings, thereby addressing the fragmented mental health system. The platform seeks to improve early intervention, increase awareness of existing services, and provide faster, 24/7 access to mental health support across the country.
24 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1172 views
The Government has renewed a $2.7 million investment in the Farmstrong rural wellbeing programme, part of a five-year $6.8 million agreement between ACC and Farmstrong aimed at reducing injuries in agriculture and horticulture. Since its 2016 launch, Farmstrong has delivered significant returns, saving over 9,800 injury claims and $52 million in costs by addressing the link between wellbeing and injury risk. The programme, supported by ACC, FMG, and the Mental Health Foundation, provides practical resources to support farmers' mental health and safety, reinforcing the sector's importance to New Zealand's economy.
20 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1162 views
One year after launching New Zealand’s first Mental Health and Addiction Workforce Plan, the Government has increased the frontline workforce by around 10%, reduced vacancy rates and wait times, and expanded training and new roles in key areas. Budget 2025 boosted funding for psychology internships and psychiatry registrar positions, surpassing targets and enhancing clinical training capacity. The updated plan, released alongside a $30 million investment to combat meth harm, focuses on faster access to support, more frontline workers, and a stronger crisis response to ensure timely help for those in need.
13 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1243 views
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced increased funding for community organizations in New Zealand to provide faster access to mental health support for young people and families. Initiatives include strengthening helplines for children, creating digital harm response networks, expanding youth programs, running peer support groups for young mothers, and launching online maternal mental health services. The focus is on early intervention and expanding maternal mental health support to set children up for success, addressing the challenge of mental health among youth and reducing wait times through partnerships with various organizations.
07 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1164 views
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey celebrates Gumboot Friday, an initiative providing free mental health support to young New Zealanders. Since receiving Government funding, over 40,700 counseling sessions have been delivered to support more than 14,350 youth. The partnership between the Government and I Am Hope aims to improve access to mental health support, with $24 million committed over four years to scale up services for young people.
05 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1203 views
Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has announced a $61.6 million funding boost to improve crisis response services, including adding 40 frontline clinical staff for crisis assessment teams nationwide, establishing two new peer-led acute alternative services, and expanding peer support in emergency departments and Crisis Recovery Cafés. The initiative aims to reduce wait times for crisis assessment and inpatient beds, provide more choice and quicker support for those in mental health distress, and enhance the peer support workforce. This investment complements previous efforts, such as the roll-out of mental health co-response teams and improving crisis helpline capacity, to ensure timely and effective support for individuals reaching out for help.
24 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1259 views
Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey announced additional funding for Whakatāne’s Resilience Café during the Rural Health Roadshow's final stop. The funding will extend the café's hours, increase staff capacity, and support the expansion of peer support services. This initiative is part of the government's plan to enhance mental health support, including the establishment of six new Crisis Recovery Cafes by June 2026.
10 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1193 views
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey celebrates the inclusion of peer support workers in North Shore Hospital's Emergency Department, marking the completion of the service's implementation in all major Auckland hospitals. The initiative aims to provide timely and tailored support for individuals in mental distress, enhancing their experience in busy emergency settings. The positive impact of peer support specialists is recognized nationwide, leading to plans for expanding the service across the country to improve mental health outcomes and crisis responses.
10 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1370 views
Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey and Sir John Kirwan launched Ask Groov, Health New Zealand’s endorsed AI wellbeing guide, to provide 24/7 mental health support. The tool aims to make support more accessible, practical, and personalized, aligning with the government's plan for faster access to mental health services and crisis response. Ask Groov offers safe, evidence-based guidance for managing mild to moderate mental health challenges, complementing professional care and ensuring users can escalate to human services if needed.
08 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1241 views
Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey visited Dunedin Hospital to celebrate the addition of peer support workers in the Emergency Department, emphasizing the benefits of having individuals with lived experience to support those in mental health crisis. The service, already implemented in five other major hospitals, aims to provide individuals with a sense of connection, support, and improved access to ongoing care. The expansion of peer support services across New Zealand is part of the government's commitment to strengthening the mental health workforce and improving crisis response for individuals seeking help.
07 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1396 views
Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey and Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand Chief Executive Shaun Robinson have launched Top Up Community Grants to support local mental health initiatives during Mental Health Awareness Week 2025. The grants aim to empower grassroots community organizations to host events and projects that promote mental well-being in their communities. With $250,000 available annually for the next two years, grant amounts range from $10,000 to $40,000 per initiative to facilitate community-led actions and improve mental health outcomes.
01 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1147 views
Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey highlights positive trends in mental health and addiction services performance nationwide, with increased access to support and progress in meeting targets observed across various regions. The focus remains on not just meeting national targets but also addressing areas needing additional support, with a 10% growth in the frontline mental health workforce. The government's commitment is to deliver faster support, more frontline workers, and improved crisis response to ensure assistance is readily available for those in need throughout New Zealand.
01 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1301 views
Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson are visiting Thames to engage with the local community and gather feedback on the implementation of the Rural Health Strategy. The main focus of the roadshows is to address concerns about healthcare access in rural and remote areas, with Budget 2025 allocating $164 million to enhance urgent and after-hours care nationwide, particularly in rural communities. The government is committed to strengthening rural healthcare, expanding the rural health workforce, and improving access to quality care for all New Zealanders, including those in rural communities.
30 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1173 views
Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson are visiting Greymouth as part of the Rural Health Roadshow to address healthcare challenges in geographically spread-out communities like the West Coast. Budget 2025 allocated $164 million to enhance urgent and after-hours care, aiming to ensure 98% of New Zealanders can reach urgent care within an hour. The Government is dedicated to removing geographic barriers to healthcare access, focusing on strengthening mental health and rural healthcare outcomes for all New Zealanders, especially those in rural communities like Greymouth.
10 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1332 views
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey participated in the launch of the Construction Industry Wellbeing Survey on World Suicide Prevention Day, emphasizing the importance of changing the narrative on suicide to reduce stigma and encourage seeking help. New Zealand faces high suicide rates, with 617 suspected suicides last year, leading to increased investment of $16 million per year in the new Suicide Prevention Action Plan, which includes various health and cross-agency actions to enhance access to support and prevention services. The government is committed to providing timely support for those at risk of suicide, promoting wellbeing campaigns, establishing crisis recovery cafes, and funding peer support workers in emergency departments to strengthen suicide prevention efforts in New Zealand.