48343 (2024). Ingrid Leary to the Minister for Mental Health

48343 (2024). Ingrid Leary to the Minister for Mental Health: Does the Minister agree with Porirua specialist GP Cathy Stephenson who advises any practice with the capacity to build a relationship with their local child and adolescent mental health service to do so; if yes, what, if anything, will he do to support this?

Hon Matt Doocey: I agree that at times, the needs of children and young people can be best served by specialised input from mental health professionals. I am further advised that a referral to a child and adolescent mental health service can be made by a GP, a child or young person themselves, a parent or caregiver, or the child’s or young person’s school.