The New Zealand government recently announced ambitious targets for improving mental health care, aiming to address the nation’s mental health crisis. While these targets, introduced by Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey, are commendable, their success hinges on the provision of detailed implementation plans and sufficient funding.
The newly set targets include ensuring that 80% of individuals accessing specialist mental health services are seen within three weeks and that 95% of those needing emergency mental health care are seen and discharged or transferred within six hours. Additionally, the government plans to train 500 mental health professionals annually and allocate 25% of mental health funding to prevention and early intervention.
This year’s budget has allocated NZ$2.6 billion for mental health and addiction services, which is an increase of about $200 million from the previous year. This includes $24 million over four years for Mike King’s I Am Hope Foundation and $10 million for the Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund.
The targets resemble those set by the John Key-led government in 2012, which aimed for 80% of youth to access specialist services within three weeks and 95% within eight weeks. However, achieving these targets previously led to diverted resources, affecting follow-up care. Many district health boards met the initial 80% target for first appointments, but subsequent appointments faced extended wait times, sometimes stretching into months. A 2018 report found that 17% of complaints to the health and disability commissioner were due to inadequate follow-up care.
The goal of ensuring 95% of mental health clients are seen and moved on from emergency departments mirrors an existing broader target from 2009, which emergency departments have struggled to consistently meet. Adequate staffing of mental health services is essential for meeting these targets. The government’s plan to train 500 professionals per year is a 17% increase from the current 428. However, there are no specific details about which professional groups will be trained. Given the acknowledged shortage of psychologists and psychiatrists, it is crucial to know how many of these professionals will be included in the training programs. Without addressing this shortage, the effectiveness of specialist services will remain limited.
In addition to the targets, the government has detailed a $10 million innovation fund aimed at community providers. This fund will match proposals from community organizations dollar-for-dollar, increasing services outside the public sector and reducing pressure on Health New Zealand. This initiative recognizes the valuable work of non-governmental and community organizations, which often lack access to public funding despite having the capacity to deliver services.
The government’s commitment to improving mental health care is evident, and the creation of a dedicated ministerial position underscores this intention. However, for these targets to be met, more detailed plans and accurate assessments of the required funding are essential. Without these, New Zealanders are left to wait and see if real change will occur.
The mental health sector’s ability to meet these targets relies heavily on a well-defined strategy, sufficient funding, and addressing the professional workforce shortage. Only then can the sector move beyond hope and deliver the care that New Zealanders need.
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