Ten-year mental health plan launched by Govt

Health Minister Andrew Little has announced a new 10-year plan for mental health and a monitoring body to keep it on track.

But it has been slammed by National Party MPs for not featuring actual milestones.

The Kia Manawanui plan will set goals on mental health, with a focus on workforce development and specialist support, Little said.

It would take New Zealand towards a ‘‘population approach’’ to mental health that looked to increase not just mental health support but also tackle the drivers of mental ill health.

An external oversight group chaired by Auckland University professor Judy McGregor will monitor the performance against the plan. The plan is part of the Government’s wider response to its 2018 mental health inquiry but some of the key recommendations made in that report are still only being accepted in principle.

The all-important mental health ringfence, which sets out how much money district health boards must spend on mental health, has not been changed. The Government says it may change that ringfence as part of its overhaul of DHBs.

Mental Health Foundation chief executive Shaun Robinson, who

has been sharply critical of the Government on mental health, said it was good to finally see the Government set out how it would respond to the 2018 inquiry.

‘‘This is a document that gives me considerable hope,’’ Robinson said. ‘‘I am really glad to see the population approach taken. We will not fix the mental health issues of New Zealand one person at a time.’’

National Party MP and mental health spokesman Matt Doocey slammed the plan, saying it was mostly just ‘‘nice words’’.

‘‘New Zealanders were promised this Government would take action on mental health.

‘‘But nothing in the Government’s announcement will help people needing mental health support today,’’ Doocey said.

Little admitted there was little in the way of numerical milestones in the plan but committed to producing those soon.

He said the mental health system had been neglected under National and fixing it was a ‘‘massive task’’.

‘‘We have heard loud and clear the need to place greater focus on promotion and prevention, as well as providing specialist support for those with complex needs,’’ Little said.