Quick-access mental health services go live

Two new mental health services were launched yesterday to make getting help easier for those in need.

The Early Mental Health Response service has been set up to allow 111 operators to transfer calls to trained mental health nurses where appropriate while a new four-digit phone number has been set up to provide mental health support and advice.

The Early Mental Health Response service is a government-funded scheme which will provide faster and more appropriate support to people in psychological or social distress who call 111.

Police acting national manager of communication centres Inspector Mal Schwartfeger said the service would create a bridge between 111 and mental health services, ensuring callers get the right help at the right time, either directly or through referral to appropriate agencies.

“Specially-trained 111 call handlers will identify those calls that should be transferred to the new service, using clear guidelines,” he said.

It was estimated the service would provide support for about 30,000 people a year.

The service was available in police districts north of the Waikato and would continue to be rolled out during the year.

The same service would be available to ambulance operators in August.

A new free, four-digit phone number to provide mental health support also went live yesterday.

Slater said the service, 1737, need to talk?, was set up as an easy to remember and convenient number to call or text for anyone who was distressed and needed to talk. The new number would be a way to connect with the same mental health and addiction professionals who respond to calls to the Alcohol Drug Helpline, Depression Helpline, The Lowdown and the Gambling Helpline.

It is free to call or text 1737 at any time on any day.