Faster access to community support

The Government is continuing to back community organisations to deliver faster access to support, more frontline workers and a better crisis response, with 22 NGOs set to receive support through the third round of the Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund.

"Before coming into office, we committed to delivering more resources to the frontline by scaling up NGOs and community providers who are already delivering better mental health outcomes," Mr Doocey says.

"I am proud to have committed $20 million in match funding over the last few years to community mental health organisations.

"Our NGOs are often closest to the people they support and understand what is needed in their communities. The Innovation Fund gives these organisations an opportunity to test new approaches and build on ideas that are already working.

"Already, the Fund has supported 19 initiatives, now taking the total number to 39. It's great to be at the New Zealand Drug Foundation today as one of the organisations being supported in the latest round, with its initiative focused on expanding SMART Recovery across New Zealand.

"The initiative will train new facilitators, support organisations and community groups to establish SMART Recovery meetings across New Zealand and develop resources for people going through addiction."

Some of the other initiatives include:

• Wellington City Mission - expanding integrated alcohol harm-reduction outreach into communities for people experiencing alcohol-related harm and complex housing needs.

• Aroha ki te Tamariki Trust - developing an integrated youth hub in Dunedin and testing a mobile youth crisis support service.

• Hanmer Springs Community Trust - expanding its rural adult ADHD pilot into a regional assessment, treatment and support service for rural communities.

• Auckland City Mission - delivering a mobile multidisciplinary health team supporting people experiencing co-existing mental health and addiction needs alongside housing insecurity.

• Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support Services Trust - integrating mental health and addiction clinicians into crisis, sexual violence and family services across the Bay of Plenty and rural Waikato.

• Think and Be Me - expanding a school-based early intervention programme providing mental health support, digital resources and training for educators.

• SchoolTV - expanding its online wellbeing platform to new schools, providing parents, family and educators with guidance, resources and pathways to support.

• Korowai Aroha Trust - embedding clinical mental health and addiction staff in primary care to provide assessments, including ADHD assessments, and workforce development.

• Midlands Regional Health Network Charitable Trust - extending access to integrated primary mental health support through a virtual Health Improvement Practitioner service.

• Living Water Health Limited - expanding a multidisciplinary model bringing together GPs, nurses, counsellors, clinical psychologists and occupational therapists to provide coordinated mental health support.

"Several other fantastic organsations will also receive funding to improve access to support. This includes initiatives led by the Problem Gambling Foundation, Weave Hawkes Bay, The Tongan Health Society Inc., Te Arawa Whānau Ora, Mates of Hawkes Bay, The Asian Network Incorporated, Ki te Tihi - The Loft, Hearts & Minds, Matapuna Training Centre, Diversity Counselling New Zealand and Academy Ex Limited.

"We are focused on making sure people have faster access to support and community organisations are an important part of delivering that, we will continue to back the frontline to help more New Zealanders get support earlier."

Notes to editor:

Please see the Health New Zealand website here, for more information on all of the organisations receiving funding, and what they will be doing.