The Tairawhiti and Northland district health boards are experimenting with new programmes for patients with both diabetes and mental health issues.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says the DHBs will take different approaches targeted to their local communities, but both will involve treating the patient’s mental health issues in conjunction with their diabetes.
Using primary care providers, they will aim to increase access to mental health services and provide additional support.
There’s also a chance in the one-year pilots to upskill health professionals.
Dr Coleman says professionals often see patients with poorly controlled diabetes who also suffer from mental health issues, which means they are at risk of developing further diabetes-related complications, adding more pressure on their mental health.
The Ministry of Health will evaluate the programmes and share the results with other DHBs.
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