10 Oct 2025
1 year ago
1193 views
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey celebrates the inclusion of peer support workers in North Shore Hospital's Emergency Department, marking the completion of the service's implementation in all major Auckland hospitals. The initiative aims to provide timely and tailored support for individuals in mental distress, enhancing their experience in busy emergency settings. The positive impact of peer support specialists is recognized nationwide, leading to plans for expanding the service across the country to improve mental health outcomes and crisis responses.
02 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1363 views
The Mental Health Minister opened Whanganui’s new Crisis Recovery Café at Aunty’s Café, the first of six cafés being rolled out by the Government nationwide. These cafés, led by Balance Aotearoa and iwi providers, offer peer-led, non-clinical support for individuals facing mental health or addiction challenges in a community setting. The Government aims to reduce pressure on traditional crisis systems by providing faster access to support, increasing frontline workers, and enhancing crisis response through initiatives like crisis cafés and peer support specialist roles in emergency departments.
09 Aug 2025
1 year ago
2128 views
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey introduced a national Top Up campaign promoting everyday actions to enhance mental health using the evidence-based 5 Ways to Wellbeing. The initiative aims to encourage proactive behavior change for better mental wellbeing across various settings. The campaign, developed in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation, aligns with the Government's Mental Health Targets by emphasizing prevention and early intervention while also improving support services.