Hawke’s Bay Hospital ED to get peer mental health support workers

People in mental distress at Hawke’s Bay Hospital's emergency department will get support from peer workers. Photo / Ian Cooper

People arriving at Hawke’s Bay Hospital’s emergency department in mental distress will soon be supported by workers with lived experience, as part of a nationwide rollout announced this week by Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey.

Hawke’s Bay, alongside Whangārei and Hutt Valley, is set to receive peer support workers in emergency departments, expanding a service already operating in eight hospitals across the country.

“The first tranche of the first eight EDs was focused on our busiest hospitals, now we are expanding to smaller and mid-sized hospitals such as Hawke’s Bay,” Doocey said.

The minister said it was important people in the Bay had access to the same level of mental health and addiction support as other parts of the country.

The initiative was funded through a $61.6 million investment aimed at improving crisis response and access to frontline mental health support.

Doocey said emergency departments could be overwhelming environments for people in crisis, and peer support workers could help bridge that gap.

“If you are going to an emergency department in mental health crisis, this can feel incredibly scary,” he said.

“Now, people can have a peer support specialist alongside them who understands what they’re going through and can help support them.”

Peer support workers are people who have experienced mental health challenges themselves and are trained to support others through similar situations.

They will provide non-clinical support alongside ED teams, including sitting with patients, helping them navigate services, and advocating for their interests.

“The support provided will look different depending on the person’s needs,” Doocey said.

He said feedback from hospitals already using the model had been “overwhelmingly positive”, with patients reporting they felt more heard and better connected to follow-up care.

The Hawke’s Bay service is expected to be operational by mid-2026, with recruitment currently underway.

The rollout forms part of a broader push to expand peer-led services, including crisis recovery cafes, eating disorder services, and alternatives to acute care settings, with Hawke’s Bay expecting to launch crisis recovery cafes this year.