Free mental health care in all communities
The Green Party will ensure everyone gets the mental health care they need.
Aotearoa can be a place where everyone has what they need to live a good life, and where anyone struggling has access to the support they need.
Political choices often impact our mental health. From the struggle to pay the bills, to cold, damp, and unaffordable homes, to discrimination, or a lack of social connection. Far too many people don’t know who to turn to and are missing out on the mental health care they need.
Mental health care can be expensive, hard to find, and appointments can take months to get. Our MPs have successfully pushed to make mental health services more accessible for thousands of young people.
Our plan will deliver free mental health services in every community, so everyone can get the support and care they need, when they need it.
An income that provides enough to live on, and safe, secure housing are essential foundations for good mental health. Our Income Guarantee will ease the stress for people struggling to make ends meet, and we will make sure people have access to warm, dry, and affordable homes.
The Green Party’s vision is an Aotearoa where no matter what people are going through, everyone is supported to live a good life, and mental health services are freely available for anyone who needs them. The time is now to make it happen.
Our plan
- Implement the recommendations of the Every Life Matters – He Tapu te Oranga o ia Tangata suicide prevention strategy, together with further actions identified as part of the kaupapa Māori response to suicide prevention.
- Expand free mental health services to all communities so everyone can access support when they need it, including expanding youth services like Piki, Mana Ake and Youth One Stop Shops throughout Aotearoa, and dedicated support for post-natal mental health.
- Fund the Māori Health Authority to deliver kaupapa Māori mental health and addiction programmes based on a Te Whare Tapa Whā model.
- Ensure timely diagnosis and effective support services for people with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia and other forms of neurodivergence.
- Review compulsory treatment orders, and ensure there is adequate resourcing for safe, and rights-affirming care for those at risk of harming themselves or others.
- Improve access to eating disorder services, including inpatient and outpatient services, and support for whānau.
- Increase the number of mental health professionals we train at all levels in Aotearoa to reduce caseloads, and improve the professional support available for our mental health workforce.
- Ensure the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission is resourced to lead a whole of government approach, guide the transformation of care and support for mental and emotional wellbeing, and provide independent monitoring and accountability for mental health services.