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Published: 20 May, 2025

Gains – Child Wellbeing at Risk in an Unpredictable World .  Recent findings from the new UNICEF report show worsening youth mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand. This is not new information but seeing how we measure up internationally clearly tells us that we are simply not doing enough. We

Published: May 2026

for the Integration of Mental Health Data (PRIMHD). It shows the pathways of people who are entering mental health and addiction services in crisis and how they journey through these services in Aotearoa New Zealand. The model looks at common pathways without revealing any individual identifying

Published: 5 December, 2024

Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission’s Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2024 is now publicly available. The report summarises how we contributed to better and equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all New Zealanders in the preceding 12 months. This

Published: 25 March, 2026

distress becomes overwhelming. “We know that timely care is critical as the effects of mental distress can follow them through their lives, sometimes causing devastating effects for them and their whānau down the track. “Our current data shows that across Aotearoa New Zealand, those under the age of 18

Published: 5 June, 2024

picture of the system available. More New Zealanders are accessing mental health or addiction support from a GP or other primary health provider. The Access and Choice programme, newly established in 2019/20, provided support to around 186,000 people in 2022/23. However, the number of people

Published: 5 June, 2024

The Voices report is an accompanying report to Kua Tīmata Te Haerenga | The Journey Has Begun (our 2024 mental health and addiction service monitoring report).   This Voices report provides richness and depth to what we heard from tāngata whaiora, communities, and the mental health

Published: 3 December, 2025

ensures transparency, acts as a lever for change, and allows people to see the impact from our recommendations.  The first recommendations were made in the Kua Tīmata Te Haerenga | The Journey has Begun, monitoring report published in June 2024. These were directed towards Health New Zealand and the

Published: 30 April, 2026

Zealand Health Survey found 1 in 5 of 15–24-year-olds experienced high to very high psychological distress. Primary and specialist mental health and addiction services cannot meet need at this scale.  “We know that without easy-to-access support, early distress can lead to long lasting negative

Published: January 2026

Service which heard the stories of over 1000 people who had experienced abuse or neglect while in state care. Barbara has been on the Ministry of Health Mental Health and Addiction Assurance group.    Over the past few years Barbara has been a Gateway Reviewer for the New Zealand Treasury

Published: 7 August, 2025

equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all. In the coming year we will bring renewed vigour to our role as a kaitiaki/guardian of mental health, addiction and wellbeing. We remain committed to fulfilling our leadership role to improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes with the aspiration