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Youth Mental Health Package Announced

» 04/04/2012, Posted by Site Admin

Government announced today a package of initiatives to improve services for young people with, or at risk of, mild to moderate mental health problems. The 'Prime Minister's Youth Mental Health package' includes initiatives in schools, online, in families and communities, and in the health system.

None of the funding for these initiatives is new: all funds come from existing baselines.

Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor Sir Peter Gluckman says the new programme will be reviewed after two years.

Government's press release and fact sheets about the package of initiatives are available at:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm-unveils-youth-mental-health-package

Immediate response to the announcement can be found in the following media coverage:

NZ Herald article:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10796661

The following interviews on Radio NZ's 'Checkpoint' programme are available from:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint

* Secondary principals say getting more nurses into poorer schools to help teenagers with mental health problems still leaves the most acutely ill without treatment for too long. Click on audio item: 'More nurses to be put into poor secondary schools'

* Role of Child Poverty as cause of mental health problems. Click on audio item: 'Labour says health initiative doesn't address the real problems'

* Increased risk for Pacific teenagers in New Zealand. Click on audio item: 'Pacific teenagers more at risk of depression'