The Commission's objective is to contribute to better and equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for people in New Zealand. It will perform an enduring role in transforming Aotearoa New Zealand's approach to mental health and wellbeing.
The Commission has released its first report [PDF, 1.7 MB] – a look at the first two years of the Access and Choice Programme(external link). It finds the programme as a whole is on schedule, with the roll out of integrated primary mental health and addiction services proceeding as planned. However, the rollout of Kaupapa Māori, Pacific, and Youth services is behind what was intended by now, and it is critically important these areas are progressed.
As part of its broader wellbeing role, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission has taken on the monitoring and advocacy function for mental health and addiction services from the former Mental Health Commissioner at the Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner(external link) (HDC).
HDC acts as an independent watchdog for people’s rights when using health and disability services and continues to consider and assess people’s complaints relating to mental health and addiction services.
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission does not handle complaints about individual or whānau experiences of using mental health and / or addiction services. These complaints are managed by the Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC).
People who have concerns about the care they or others have experienced at a mental health or addiction service should still contact the Advocacy Service(external link) or make a complaint to the HDC(external link).
