46891 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health

46891 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter January to March 2024 to ‘Develop solutions with communities, including with NZ Police, to support people who are in mental distress or experiencing an acute mental health and addiction episode to access timely care and support’ under section 2.5 ‘Oranga hinengaro | People living with mental distress, illness and addictions’ within Te Whatu Ora’s Te Pae Tata: Interim New Zealand Health Plan 2022?

Hon Matt Doocey: I am advised that during the January to March 2024 quarter, work commenced to address the first three priority areas that have been identified: Infant, child and youth Mental Health and Addiction Services; Alcohol and other Drug Services and Services for people with High and complex needs. The Mentally Well Strategic Design Network Programme Manager had meetings with sector groups, representatives from the lived experience community, regional, Hauora Māori and Pacific commissioning teams and Hospital and Specialist Services leads to begin to clarify how to best initiate the strategic design networks. They will be tasked re-imagining and re-designing systems of care for mental health and addiction services. A co-design working group has been established to support the infant child and youth strategic design network.