A report released by the Initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission has signalled progress in the Government's response to He Ara Oranga, the inquiry into mental health and addiction in New Zealand.
The report, 'Upholding the Wero Laid in He Ara Oranga', offers advice to the Government and checks in on areas of the response showing signs of progress.
The Initial Commission was established to hold the Government and the system to account for its response to He Ara Oranga, on behalf of New Zealanders who suffer from mental illness and addiction. It's five members - Hayden Wano, Kendall Flutey, Kevin Hague, Julie Wharewera-Mika and Kelly Pope - were announced in September last year.
"We acknowledge the commitment from the Government to transform the system, and we appreciate that it will take time. The mental health and wellbeing system is complex and requires a brave and bold shift in culture and new ways of working together," Wano, the commission's chair, said in a statement on Thursday.
The commission has followed up on four priority areas, the findings of which are published in the new report.
The formation of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission
The first key area is the formation of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, which is currently in the process of being established. According to the report, New Zealanders want to see the commission prioritise genuine partnerships with Māori, Pacific peoples and those with lived experience of mental health and addiction.
Suicide prevention
The second key area is suicide prevention. The report says that building blocks are in place following the publication of the Suicide Prevention Strategy, Every Life Matters, and the establishment of the Suicide Prevention Office, which was officially opened in November.
Repealing, replacing the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992
The third is the repeal and replacement of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992, which is currently underway. According to the report, there is hope that this can take a "rights-based approach". It notes that new legislation alone won't be transformative, and must be supported by other changes - such as expanding access to and increasing the number of available mental health and addiction services.
Expanding access to, choice of publicly-funded mental health, addiction services
The fourth priority area is the expansion of access and choice to publicly-funded services to help those suffering with addiction or their mental health. Programmes for new frontline services have been launched at pace, with services via GPs available almost nationwide and pilot programmes with a focus on kaupapa Māori, Pacific and youth.
However, funding mechanisms have not changed enough to support a "partnership approach", the report acknowledges, which would see priority populations co-design services from the outset.
"Overall, our findings are relatively consistent across all four initial priorities; progress is happening, and communities are leading change from the front," Wano said.
"There is strong hope that we can build a wellbeing system with people and whānau at the heart, but there is still a long way to go before people on the ground can see real change."
The report also highlights areas that could be strengthened to form strong foundations for the future and work towards greater equity. These include:
- grounding the system in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equity
- putting people and whānau at the centre of a unified and inclusive system
- stronger, more visible leadership and genuine partnerships
- a clear, long-term plan we develop together
- a strategy that supports and develops our wellbeing workforce
- investment that expands access and increases choice, and prioritises Māori and those who need it the most.
While the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted New Zealanders' mental health remains unclear, the crisis has fostered new opportunities and challenges for the mental health and wellbeing system, Wano says, which will hopefully accelerate its growth and development.
"We would like to encourage the system to pause, reflect and embrace the strengths that emerged in the last few months, such as collaboration, high trust and a shared understanding of need and outcomes," he said.
"Our response to COVID-19 has shown that together, we can achieve great things. Let's not lose this."
