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Published: September 2023

are feeling, there is someone to talk to and free help is available. People are here for you if you just want to seek advice around how to support people that you’re worried about. Whatever support you’re looking for, there is a variety of online tools and helplines. If it is an emergency situation

Published: 11 June, 2025

“Our new system performance monitoring report highlights the need for faster improvements to address declining mental health and wellbeing,” said Karen Orsborn, CEO of Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. The System Performance Monitoring Report released today by Te Hiringa

Published: 5 June, 2024

complex cases. For example, vacancies rates sit at 22% for psychologists and 19% for psychiatrists. “What we’re seeing is that under-pressure services have constraints on how many people they can see, with some people not meeting the threshold to access specialist services. Some people can get

Published: 16 June, 2022

have no therapeutic value, and called for investment that will provide the choice of services needed to enhance safety for all. Karen Orsborn: Time to end coercive practices in mental health care OPINION: People in Aotearoa New Zealand experiencing significant mental distress continue to be subject

Published: January 2026

Executive of Te Hiringa Mahara. During 2020, Karen led the establishment of Te Hiringa Mahara as Head of Secretariat for the Initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. Karen has held a variety of health management and leadership roles that focus on improving outcomes for people through working

Published: 13 December, 2023

;  The challenges to progress are not confined to the size of the health budget. Having a workforce equipped to handle the challenges across all population groups is a top priority. We are calling for a detailed workforce plan to reduce clinical vacancies, and create a greater role for peer support

Published: May 2026

, particularly for Māori and young people. The system is under significant pressure, with longer wait times for crisis phone lines, people staying longer in services than five years ago and increased complexity of distress and needs. Crisis responses vary across the country, and in some areas, there are

Published: 20 May, 2025

all parties in Parliament – agreed on recommendations for amendments to the Bill. The Select Committee has recommended some changes that strengthen the proposed legislation. Recommended improvements include that ‘advance directives’ and acknowledgement of the ‘dignity of risk’ are added to the guiding

Published: 30 June, 2022

people are forced or pressured to do something. This can include forced medication, solitary confinement, forced electroconvulsive therapy, physical restraint, mechanical restraint, and environmental restraint such as locked units. Coercive practises also include influencing decision making in a

Published: April 2026

that ensures information systems are integrated and enables collection of quality and timely data. Government commits to funding a planned programme of work to collect mental health and addiction prevalence data by June 2025, to enable improved services and ensure value for money.  The report