June 01, 2023
Prevention cutting mental health calls
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The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission says the number of people accessing specialist mental health and addiction services is going down as more people make use of the Access and Choice programme for those with mild-to-moderate mental health and addiction needs.
In its 2023 monitoring report, the commission says fewer people used primary mental health initiatives, telehealth and online services than in the previous year.
However, there have been substantial increases in medication dispensing, particularly for young people, and board chair Hayden Wano questions whether young people have a full range of treatment options available, particularly as they face long wait times to access specialist services.
Coercive practices continue to be widely used, particularly for Māori and Pacific peoples.
Mr Wano says the commission wants to see more by Māori, for Māori approaches, such as kaupapa Māori services.