There will be 40 clinical psychology internships available every year by 2024, the Government has announced.
The Government's been facing pressure to increase the number of mental health workers in the system, including training more psychologists.
Health Minister Andrew Little said the number of internships has been lifted from 12 in 2017 to 28 this year. That will now increase to 38 next year and to 40 for each year after that.
"We've already increased the payment interns receive by 40 percent to nearly $60,000 each," he said.
"This is part of the Government's wider work to support and upskill our existing mental health workforce, as well as grow the pipeline of people coming to work in mental health and addiction roles."
Little said this is a part of a wider workforce development programme underway, including trial hubs where interns can work across multiple services with clinical supervisors.
"The Government is also funding free access to a range of talking therapy training programmes for people working in Mental Health and addiction," Little said.
"These include courses in cognitive behavioural therapy for children and young people, youth addiction, and Kaupapa Māori models of talking therapy.
"Work is also underway to deliver more support and training for those providing mental health and wellbeing supports to refugees, migrants and Asian communities."
He said primary mental health and addiction services are facing increased demand, but the Government's $1.9 billion investment in mental health had led to tens of thousands of New Zealanders being helped under the Access and Choice programme. That now also has 1000 full-time equivalent roles under contract.
"That means the delivery of important services that simply didn't exist before the 2019 Wellbeing Budget, bringing services closer to home that are available when and where people need them."
Last year, a petition was delivered to Parliament calling on the Government to double the number of clinical psychologists being trained by increasing funding for training programmes and internship placements.
"There is a shortage of psychologists and people who would benefit from their services are missing out. We strongly believe that this workforce shortage needs to be fixed," it said.
"Clinical psychologists are mental health experts trained to assess and treat a wide range of psychological difficulties. They also train and supervise other mental health professionals making them critical to the mental health workforce."
