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Published: April 2026

over the past decade. The research is clear that supporting young people earlier, before distress escalates, can reduce the long-term impacts on their mental health, wellbeing, education, employment, and family outcomes. It also reduces the demand on the mental health system which is under pressure

Published: 4 November, 2025

Crisis responses are a critical part of an effective mental health system, and we are calling for a nationally cohesive approach to crisis responses to be developed by June 2027. In Aotearoa New Zealand, we have a collection of services with components that are working well. Elements of a good

Published: 30 June, 2022

, or severe mental health challenges mental distress or psychological distress crisis or mental health crisis suicidal distress despair mental illness acute experiences or extreme state We use the term ‘distress’ rather than ‘mental distress’ to acknowledge there are different ways that people describe

Published: 1 October, 2020

and Pacific communities. People told us: Support starts and continues with people and communities, not services. The former Mental Health Commissioner’s framework was viewed as being too narrow but was something that could be refined and built upon. The voices of Māori and tāngata whaiora are crucial

Published: 28 August, 2024

Details of how the 2019 Wellbeing Budget Taking mental health seriously funding was spent have been made public by Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. In a new report released today, the Commission shows that 92% of all funding allocated had been spent or committed by 30

Published: 28 October, 2021

schedule, with the rollout of integrated primary mental health and addiction services proceeding as planned. However, we would like to see the rollout of services for Māori, Pacific peoples, and youth accelerated. We also want youth services prioritised and delivered in ways and settings that are

Published: 9 April, 2025

On 8 April the NZ Police and Health NZ made a joint announcement about Mental Health Response Changes.  With Phase One complete, the agencies Phase Two will now start from 14 April with both agencies agreeing to a staged implementation across districts. Te Hiringa Mahara has made this

Published: 6 October, 2022

A narrow focus on mental health may prevent us from understanding the broader wellbeing impacts of COVID-19 in Aotearoa, Te Hiringa Mahara – the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission - has found in its first report on the impact of the pandemic on wellbeing. “For people to flourish and experience

Published: 8 December, 2021

or community experiences positive wellbeing, they are generally engaged with society and have good quality of life and mental health. For those experiencing negative wellbeing, the reverse is often true. Our report shows that while a substantial majority are in a positive space, too many people and

Published: November 2025

Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Act 2020 and how our performance will be assessed.  Statement of Performance Expectations 2025 - 2026 [PDF 1.8MB]     Statement of Performance Expectations 2024 - 2025 This Statement of Performance Expectations sets out our work programme for the