Mental Health & Addiction Update - 9 March 2021

on 11 March

 

In this edition:

  • Message from Toni
  • Our progress delivering on He Ara Oranga
  • Developing the pathway for transformation
  • ROI open for Rainbow youth support
  • More youth services rolling out
  • Mentemia talks emotions with changing Alert Levels
  • Animated series on mental health and resilience
 

Kia ora whānau

No matter where you are in the country, I hope you are managing the changing nature of the COVID-19 environment ok.

It’s only natural  to feel anxious or concerned with the changes to Alert Levels, so please make sure you are looking after yourselves and each other. There has been a real focus on ensuring that there are a range of mental wellbeing messages particularly targeted to supporting people in Auckland who have been in lockdown again. You can see below a video from JK and the team at Mentemia on managing emotions.  Our thanks to everyone in Auckland.  Your actions are protecting all of us.  

Toni Gutschlag Acting Deputy Director-General, Mental Health and Addiction

Toni Gutschlag
Deputy Director-General, Mental Health and Addiction

It’s a good time to remember that there is free and confidential mental wellbeing support available for frontline health worker staff. HealthCare New Zealand can connect staff with a registered psychologist, it’s as simple as calling 0800 820 080 Monday – Friday 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.

The Mental Health and Addiction Directorate has published our latest quarterly progress update, focused on the second quarter of 2020-21. We’ve also covered off some of the broader achievements, as we know there is keen interest in how the programme is rolling out.

We’ve also started the next phase of engagement which will help in developing the Long-Term Pathway for transformation of New Zealand’s approach to mental health and wellbeing. The long-term pathway will build on the actions in Kia Kaha, Kia Maia, Kia Ora Aotearoa – COVID-19 Psychosocial and Mental Wellbeing Recovery Plan, and will build on the insights we’ve gained through engagement over the last 18 months. You can read more about the Long-Term Pathway below – I look forward to hearing how we can best build this pathway for collective action.

I look forward to providing further updates on our progress over the next few weeks.

Ngā mihi,

Toni.

Click here to view full update

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