Nats pledge new mental health focus

Here4u Gisborne chairwoman Annie Cousins (From left), trustee Chrissie Fraser, National MP Matt Doocey, trustees Jo Higgins-Ware and Krissy Mackintosh and National East Coast candidate Dana Kirkpatrick discuss suicide prevention and other mental health issues. Picture supplied

by Wynsley Wrigley

National MP Matt Doocey wants to be the country’s first ever Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.

He is the National Party’s first spokesman on such health issues and believes New Zealand needs such a dedicated cabinet minister within the wider health ministry.

Mr Doocey has been in Gisborne supporting National Party East Coast candidate Dana Kirkpatrick in her election campaign.

He says a National-led Government would financially support community producers and NGOs in the mental health field, with backing from a Mental Health Innovation Fund.

It would be armed with funding of $20 million over four years.

Funding would be kept away from the bureaucracy and go into organisations that worked, such as Mike King’s Gumboot Friday and Mates in Construction, he said.

The funding could allow Gumboot Friday to provide 130,000 free counselling hours.

To qualify for co-investment funding from the Mental Health Innovation Fund, NGOs would need to demonstrate they can:

1. Increase access to mental health and addiction support.

2. Protect public specialist mental health services by reducing demand.

3. Develop capacity in the mental health workforce.

4. Use technology to drive productivity.

5. Evidence positive social return on investment.

Mr Doocey said no one seemed to have benefited from mental health funding of

$1.8 billion announced in the 2019 Budget.

The country was past an era when mental health was stigmatised. Most Kiwis today realised the importance of expressing their emotions, he said.

Mr Doocey said both Labour and past National governments had been disappointing when it came to mental health policy.

Ms Kirkpatrick said they had visited various community mental health providers.

In the aftermath of the cyclone, it appeared that Gisborne issues were related to infrastructure damage or destruction.

But the longer lasting impacts were on the wellbeing of the community.

People were tired and worn out across all sectors and age groups.

There were children who couldn’t get to school and farmers still struggling with floods who now had to contend with inflation, high interest rates and other economic factors.

“I don’t think we’re anywhere near recovered.”

Turning to the general election in October, Mr Doocey said it seemed the country’s mood had changed.

There is a clear mood for change.

But National had to work hard for every vote through to election day.

Mr Doocey and Ms Kirkpatrick agreed the key election issues were the cost of living, law and order, and education.

The public were also beginning to look more favourably at the leadership of Christopher Luxon — the difference in his polling was “like night and day”, said Mr Doocey.