Real results delivered for mental health

Quarter three mental health and addiction target results show New Zealanders are continuing to get faster access to support, with all three mental health and addiction access targets improving on the previous quarter, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced today. 

"The Government's mental health plan is delivering faster access to support, more frontline workers and a better crisis response, with four out of five mental health and addiction targets now being met. Over the last two and a half years we have delivered on a range of commitments that are now clearly making a real difference for New Zealanders," Mr Doocey says. 

"The results today show progress is being made despite more people reaching out for primary mental health support. For reference, 84,345 people accessed primary mental health support in the most recent quarter, up from 73,239 a year earlier. 

"Despite this, nearly 84 per cent of people are accessing primary mental health support within one week. The data shows more New Zealanders are accessing mental health services, but at the same time more people are being seen faster. 

"We know in particular that our young people have a vocabulary a lot of us never had when we were growing up. They can talk about their mental health more openly and are more willing to seek support when they need it.  

"That is a good thing, and it is encouraging that more people are reaching out for help. It makes the improvements we are seeing in access and wait times even more significant. 
"The Government has had a relentless focus on our mental health plan since coming into office. Already it has delivered:

An 11 per cent increase in Health New Zealand mental health and addiction frontline workers.
An 11 per cent increase in Health New Zealand mental health and addiction frontline workers.
On track to double clinical psychology internships, already going from 40 in 2023 to 74 in 2026.
  Increased psychiatry registrar intake by 50 per cent.
Established a new psychology assistant pathway, with students in class in semester two. 
Published New Zealand's first dedicated mental health workforce plan in our first year and refreshed it in 2025. 
 Funded eight new crisis recovery cafés, with four already open. 
 Funded 11 Emergency Departments to have peer support workers, with eight already delivered. 
Funded 10 new mental health co-response teams, with many already operating. 
Increased the number of funded beds from 1,317 to 1,368 over the last year.

"It is not just the Government saying progress is being made. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission's report provides independent confirmation that we are heading in the right direction. 

"The Commission found workforce vacancy rates have fallen from 11 per cent in 2022 to 8 per cent in 2025, more people are entering mental health training, and timeliness of access to services is improving. 

"Importantly, the Commission noted that targets help drive improvement, saying that 'what gets measured gets done'. They are right. Targets help identify where more work is needed and guide investment to where it is most needed, whether that be in a particular region or for a particular group. 

"While there is more work to do, these results show we are turning the corner. More people are getting faster access to support, more workers are on the frontline, and we are fixing the basics by building a better mental health system fit for the future." 
Notes to editor:
•    82.2 per cent of people are accessing specialist mental health support within three weeks, against an 80 per cent target. 
•    83.7 per cent of people are accessing primary mental health support within one week, against an 80 per cent target. 
•    68.5 per cent of people are being admitted, transferred or discharged from an emergency department within six hours, against a 95 per cent target. 
•    25 per cent of the mental health and addiction ringfence is going towards early intervention and prevention. This target has been met. 
•    514 new mental health and addiction workers have been trained, against a target of 500. ...