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Published: January 2026

advisory committee, and is a member of the following global networks: The Global Leadership Exchange (GLE) brings together and connects mental health leaders to help spread innovation and best practice to improve mental health and addiction services around the globe. The World Federation for Mental

Published: 4 November, 2025

mental health system.   Crisis support must be health-led, with a strong role for the lived experience workforce. People need a real choice of safe and welcoming options for both mental health and substance use crises. This must be culturally safe, trauma-informed and uphold human rights wherever

Published: 4 November, 2025

approaches.  Shorter term actions are also called for by 30 June 2026, including ensuring 24/7 phone-based crisis support and consistent pathways are also prioritised.  Te Hiringa Mahara stress a strong role for a lived experience workforce, and real choices of safe and welcoming services that are

Published: 25 July, 2023

to Jemaima for her contribution to the board, acknowledging her thought leadership, expertise and dedication.   Prior to joining Te Hiringa Mahara board Jemaima contributed to the mental wellbeing of Aotearoa through her work with the Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction in 2018, and

Published: 13 December, 2023

rangatahi and young people, and other populations who experience disadvantage. Having strong relationships with communities is important for our collective kaupapa. We conducted our first stakeholder engagement survey to better understand their experiences engaging with us. In this survey, 70% of

Published: 4 November, 2025

monitoring report , along with commentary about what a good crisis response system could look like for Aotearoa New Zealand. Our panelists were:  Sonya Russell, Kaiwhakahaere Hauora Hinengaro, Waranga | Director Mental Health and Addiction Sector Leadership, Te Hiringa Mahara Kerri Butler

Published: 2 September, 2025

improvements.   Our panelists were: Sonya Russell, Kaiwhakahaere Hauora Hinengaro, Waranga | Director Mental Health and Addiction Sector Leadership, Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Ruth Borrett, Chief Operating Officer, Ember Korowai Takitini. Ruth will be speaking about

Published: February 2024

. What people share with us will help us to better understand changes in the number of people who use mental health and addiction services. Who do we want to hear from? We want to hear from people who have experience of mental distress, alcohol or other drug harm, gambling harm, or addiction who have

Published: 16 June, 2022

, and crisis co-response teams involving paramedics, mental health clinicians, peers and police staff. Over the past 10 years, such services have demonstrated that they can support people safely, and that people's levels of distress decrease when they are aided by people with lived experience who

Published: 31 March, 2026

disproportionately subjected to some of the most harmful practices in our mental health system,” says Director Mental Health and Addiction Sector Leadership, Sonya Russell. “Māori account for 55 percent of all adults placed in seclusion, despite making up just 17 percent of the population. Māori are also more likely