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Published: February 2026

. Increasing the range of acute options provides people with viable and welcome alternatives that allow them to stay safe and supported in their local community during acute mental health events. A high-quality acute continuum of mental health care can provide a safety net for anyone who needs it

Published: 21 March, 2024

The announcement today by the Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey that a new mental health and addiction peer support service will be set up in hospital emergency departments is a positive move.   “People who are experiencing mental distress who arrive at an emergency department will

Published: March 2026

A think tank convened by Te Hiringa Mahara created space for ‘blue sky’ thinking about the future role primary and community care can play in supporting people with mental health and substance use needs. To share the outcome of the think tank workshop held in August 2025, we have published a short

Published: 30 November, 2022

This report and its accompanying Improving access and choice for youth report, looks at the first three years of the programme rollout since funds were allocated to the priority initiative in the 2019 Wellbeing Budget. Published in November 2022. These reports provide us with an opportunity to see

Published: 22 March, 2022

more is needed to address pressures on specialist services, particularly for young people. “The current health reforms, and the newly-created Health NZ and the Māori Health Authority, provide opportunities to embed strong leadership in their operating models and enhance the focus on mental health and

Published: 2 October, 2025

This working paper presents a focused review of suicide and self-harm monitoring indicators. The paper outlines how these indicators will contribute to building a high-level picture about rates of suicide and self-harm in Aotearoa New Zealand. The purpose of this review was to identify a small set

Published: 8 June, 2023

Pacific peoples’ connection – to family, community, culture and faith – has been a key source of strength and resilience in the pandemic. This is according to today’s Te Hiringa Mahara – the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission report  Pacific connectedness and wellbeing in the pandemic&nbsp

Published: 9 April, 2025

statement in response to planned changes. People in acute mental health distress need access to the services and help they need in a timely way. Strengthening the health led crisis responses is the right direction to head. We are keeping a close eye on the implementation of changes being made by NZ

Published: 14 February, 2023

of rural communities in Aotearoa New Zealand . Around 16% of the population live in rural areas, and around 35% in total live outside of large urban areas - these figures are higher for Māori. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated pre-existing challenges and has had large impacts on

Published: 18 February, 2025

Data released today by Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission shows that fewer people accessed specialist mental health and addiction services in the year from July 2023 to June 2024 than in previous years. Recently available data shows a decrease of over 3,000 fewer people than