Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, March 22, 2024
In a move aimed at improving mental health care accessibility, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey has unveiled plans for the deployment of an innovative mental health and addiction peer support service within hospital emergency departments.
This initiative, announced on March 21, 2024, marks a significant step forward in addressing the pressing needs of individuals grappling with mental health crises and substance abuse issues.
New Mental Health and Addiction Peer Support Services will be integrated with hospital emergency departments across New Zealand.
#JustAnnounced the implementation of a new mental health and addiction peer support service in hospital emergency departments.
Posted by Matt Doocey MP on Wednesday 20 March 2024
Improving outcomes
Citing concerning statistics, Mr Doocey said that between 13,000 and 14,600 people seek assistance on mental health issues at Emergency Departments (EDs) every year.
However, due to unreliable data, the actual figures could be even higher, he said.
“This initiative is aimed at improving outcomes for those who seek crisis support for mental health issues at EDs while freeing up more time for clinical staff to deal with clinical work,” Mr Doocey said.
He acknowledged that EDs have increasingly become bottlenecks for various issues, including mental health crises affecting not only patients but also entities like law enforcement, who sometimes face lengthy waits until patients receive care.
Peer support specialists
Mr Doocey said that since becoming New Zealand’s first Minister for Mental Health, he has heard from people saying that peer support specialists should play a greater role in helping address some of the challenges.
“One of my top priorities is addressing the significant mental health workforce shortages. Peer Support Specialists play a vital role within this workforce, and we must put in place specific initiatives to grow and support them. Peer Support Specialists in EDs will provide mental health support, connect people to community services and provide comfort to patients arriving on their own, with family or the Police,” he said.
Pivotal support group
Many have advocated greater involvement of peer support specialists to address systemic challenges within mental health services.
By sharing their own lived experience and practical guidance, peer support workers help people to develop their own goals, create strategies for self-empowerment, and take concrete steps towards building fulfilling, self-determined lives for themselves.
The initiative will be launched in four major hospitals in its inaugural year, with an additional four hospitals slated for inclusion in the second year.
Funding for the programme, estimated between $300,000 and $500,000 per hospital, will be drawn from unallocated Health New Zealand funds. This effort will bolster existing collaborations between Health NZ clinical services and NGOs.
Further, a $1 million workforce fund has been earmarked over two years to finance Level 4 NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Peer Support) training, along with specialised training tailored for ED environments.
Mr Doocey expressed optimism about the potential success of the initiative, with plans for a nationwide rollout should the trial prove effective.
“We envision expanding the model next year based on the success of the trial,” he affirmed, underlining the government’s commitment to revolutionising mental health care delivery in New Zealand.
Praneeta Mahajan is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Hamilton.
