October 18, 2023
Mental health fund gives little hope
I Am Hope founder Mike King doesn’t hold out much hope National’s proposed $20 million mental health innovation fund will help his organisation.
On the campaign trail health spokesperson Shane Reti said National would fund community organisations like I am Hope’s Gumboot Friday to increase access to mental health services.
Mr King says that example has confused the public.
“So in the ears of the public, that is ‘Oh good for you Mikey, getting $20 million.’ No, one that’s an innovation fund and that has to be spread across a lot of organisations, and probably more crucially, he is only funding or matching dollar for dollar. So if people now believe we’re getting funded, and they don’t give us that dollar, we are no better off. And in fact, we could be worse off than we were before,” he says.
Gumboot Friday is November 3, the same day the official election results will be released.