1600 more workers needed for access plan

Another 1600 workers will be needed to fulfil a Government plan to increase access to mental health services.

The Budget 2019 included $455 million over four years for a new universal frontline mental health and addiction service, to drastically increase access for people with mild to moderate mental health needs, a group dubbed ‘‘the missing middle’’.

The Ministry of Health is seeking proposals for new services as part of the initiative but will also increase funding for approved existing providers, such as non-governmental organisations and iwi providers.

By 2024, the Government estimates the initiative will help 325,000 people. People with experience of mental illness have welcomed the idea of easier and earlier access but concerns have been raised about how the initiative will be rolled out.

Speaking at a workshop in Christchurch yesterday, Health Minister David Clark said another 1600 workers would be needed to staff new services funded under the initiative, which would be tailored to the needs of specific communities. This did not include staff working for existing providers.

He estimated about threequarters of the new workforce would already hold some health qualification but said more training would be needed. Clark told attendees to set aside traditional concerns about funding and workforce constraints.

Ministry of Health deputy director general mental health and addiction Robyn Shearer said the ministry expected to roll out extra funding for existing providers by September or October.