26734 (2023). Ingrid Leary to the Minister for Mental Health

26734 (2023). Ingrid Leary to the Minister for Mental Health: Does the Minister commit to removing systemic barriers preventing Asian women from receiving mental health services especially in perinatal care, and if so, how?

Hon Matt Doocey: I am committed to increasing access to mental health services for people of all cultures, including Asian peoples, and ensuring there are tailored supports available for groups with specific cultures and needs. I am advised that the recently published Oranga Hinengaro Mental Health and Addiction– System and Service Framework identifies the core components of a contemporary mental health and addiction system with a 10-year view, as well as the critical shifts required to achieve the transformation required. One of these critical shifts is to address unmet need. For specific population groups, such as Asian populations, this means using innovation to enable the delivery of culturally appropriate services in areas with sufficient population size and needs. I am further advised that while the System and Services Framework has a 10 year framework, Te Whatu Ora has already commenced some work in this area. Through the Budget 2022 Increasing Availability of Specialist Mental Health and Addiction Services initiative, dedicated funding has been allocated to continue and expand the Healthy Mother Healthy Future (HMHF) - Asian Perinatal Wellbeing Programme in Waitemata. Te Whatu Ora has also funded the development and delivery of cultural competency training for the mental health and addiction workforce, with a focus on Asian and refugee populations. This will support the workforce to deliver more culturally responsive services to these population groups.