Mental Health & Addiction Update - 23 July 2021

on 26 July

 

In this edition:

  • Long-Term Pathway to mental wellbeing

  • Access and choice programme supporting people across Aotearoa

  • Suicide Prevention Office strategic planning

  • Nōku te Ao – a new phase for Like Minds, Like Mine

  • Have you joined Whāriki yet?

 

Kia ora whānau

We are settling into the second half of 2021 and our work programme continues to gather momentum. There is a lot to keep across, so now is a good time to make sure you're getting these emails direct. If someone has forwarded this newsletter on to you and you’re not subscribed yourself, now is a good time to tick that off the list. Sign up on our website here.

There remains a lot of media interest in our work programme, and for good reasons. The Government has invested significantly into mental wellbeing and we’re pleased to have more opportunities to share the good work that is being done. Thank you again for your mahi.

Toni Gutschlag Deputy Director-General, Mental Health and Addiction

Toni Gutschlag
Deputy Director-General, Mental Health and Addiction

Of particular interest over the last few weeks has been funding for an organisation that works with gang families to address methamphetamine addiction. This was a cross-Government decision that was made following positive results from a similar programme, called Hauora. If we want to address addiction we need a variety of responses. Success in this area will also be successful for the wider community.

I’m also pleased to share news that we are nearing completion of the procurement for national digital wellbeing tools, one aimed at adults and one aimed at young people. We had a very strong response to the call for proposals and, unfortunately, we have had to let around 30 applicants know that they have not been successful this time. We expect to be able to share news of the funded tools over the next month.

Finally, I’d like to congratulate Te Hiringa Hauora/Health Promotion Agency on the launch of Nōku te Ao. This programme builds on the success of Like Minds, Like Mine, which really did change the conversation around mental health and did a lot to reduce stigma around mental illness. I look forward to seeing the success that Nōku te Ao will bring.

Ngā mihi,
Toni

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