The government is funding the further roll out of free mental health and addiction services across the country.
David Clark says 1.5 million Kiwis will have access to mental health and addiction support. Photo: RNZ /Dom Thomas
It has just announced $40 million of funding so 100 new health practices can provide the services already available at 22 sites across the country.
Health Minister David Clark expects once fully operational, 1.5 million New Zealanders will have access to the mental health and addiction support.
Clark said workers who will provide the service will start their training next month, despite the disruption caused by Covid-19. Health officials have adapted training so it can now be done online, he said.
Maree McCracken from Pinnacle Midlands Health Network helped set up two of the existing service providers in Taupo and Turangi.
Dr McCracken said the services will help ease demand for crisis services.
"We're just going to see better outcomes. People who are more productive, who are happier and able to enjoy much fuller lives as a result of getting the help that they need."
The services in Taupō and Turangi have offered support to people in hard to reach places, she said.
"We've been seeing really high numbers, I'm delivering a lot of sessions. So in the first seven months we delivered one thousand of these free sessions, and that's in contrast to approximately 150 people being seen by primary mental health services in that region, prior to these new services being implemented."
The government expects the 100 new sites will be fully operational by the middle of next year.
One of the new sites will be set-up at the University of Canterbury's health centre, making free mental health care available to more than 8000 students.