Mental Health & Addiction Update - 24 March 2021

on 24 March

 

In this edition:

  • Update from Toni Gutschlag, Deputy Director-General
  • Developing the Long-Term Pathway for mental wellbeing in Aotearoa
  • Youthline gets a $1 million boost
  • Amplifying lived experience voices
  • New network for leaders and innovators goes live
  • Out and about

 

 

Kia ora whānau

We are making great progress toward development of the Long-Term Pathway for mental wellbeing in Aotearoa. I’m really pleased with the level of engagement and have found the conversations we’ve been having and the feedback we’ve received really motivating. This work is important, and it takes all of us. Submissions close later today, so please make sure to take this opportunity to share your input - there’s more information below.

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend the Te Ara Tūpuna Rangatira – Celebrating Leadership conference. It was an inspiring day and I congratulate the team at Te Pou for its launch of Whāriki – an initiative that is truly going to open up the possibilities for us to share knowledge and experiences across the motu.

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

Toni Gutschlag
Deputy Director-General, Mental Health and Addiction

I also had the opportunity to speak at the leadership day hosted by the National Committee for Addiction Treatment. I appreciated the opportunity to connect and engage with leaders from addiction services.

Finally, I was pleased to attend the announcement of a further $1 million funding for Youthline on Sunday, it follows an announcement in February of the roll out of youth mental health and addiction services in six DHB areas – which means we now have youth specific services across 10 DHB areas with more to come. It is heartening to see the momentum building as we deliver on our commitment to increase access to, and choice of, services for youth.

Of course, rangatahi are one priority group in our programme, and I’m looking forward to more announcements for Māori and Pacific in the coming weeks.

Ngā mihi,

Toni

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