Report Confirms That Mental Health And Addiction Programmes Are A Sound Investment

A new report released today by Platform Trust shines a
light on some of the amazing programmes that are supporting
people who are struggling with their mental health to get
well, stay well, and live healthy
lives.

“A Sound Investment
celebrates the strong and committed mental health and
addiction NGO sector workforce and demonstrates how the
mental health and addiction NGO sector is an indispensable
part of the health system,” says Sally Pitts-Brown,
Chairperson of Platform Trust.

“The
NGOs highlighted in this report offer innovative programmes
and can stand-up and scale up community-based alternatives
to acute care very quickly.

“The examples in this
report show that people engaging in NGO-led alcohol or drug
treatment programs reduce the number of days they use
substances by at least half, on average. They also
demonstrate that supporting people in their community is the
most efficient and cost-effective way of providing
care.

“By supporting these types of NGOs, we can
ensure practical help and support in the community are
available when people need it.

“We know that many
Emergency Departments around the country are struggling.
That is why it is vital that community-based organisations
are funded now, and in the future, as they can ease pressure
from the rest of the system.

“The release of this
report demonstrates that community and local NGOs have the
capability to scale up and meet challenges in the health
sector.

“It also demonstrates that mental health and
addition NGOs have a collaborative approach that adds value,
and deliver results, improved outcomes and access, which is
one of five government mental health and addiction
targets.

It highlights, a growing workforce, that is
diverse of which the support worker workforce is the largest
deserving urgency from Health New Zealand and Government to
support a solution to resolve the outstanding pay equity
claim.

“By supporting, valuing, and strengthening
NGO providers, the country can make significant strides
towards achieving equity in mental health and addiction
outcomes for all New Zealanders.”

The report is
available on the Platform Trust website:
https://www.platform.org.nz/what-we-do/ngo-capability-impact-and-value

About
Platform Trust

Platform is a membership organisation
and peak body representing the mental health and addiction
NGO and community sector. Platform actively collaborates
with a network of 6 Regional Navigate Groups covering mental
health and addictions services in the community. Currently
95 NGOs are members of Platform that provide support to
tāngata whai ora (people seeking wellness) including Māori
and Pasifika providers, and whānau and peer-led
services.

Collectively across 2023/24, approximately
73,000[1]
people accessed mental health and addiction NGO services,
making up approximately 42% of all people accessing
specialist support for their mental health or addiction
needs in Aotearoa. NGO and community providers also work
alongside primary care teams to support over approximately
92,250[2]
people who used Access and Choice programme, for mild to
moderate mental health needs.

There is a large and
diverse workforce across the broader mental health and
addiction NGO and community sector with a range of staff
working across different occupational groups which in 2022
consisted of about 5,820 staff fulltime equivalents[3].

[1]
Te Whatu Ora|Health New Zealand PRIMHD extract dated 27
November 2024, analysed by Te Pou.

[2]
Te Hiringa Mahara | Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.
(2022). Access and Choice Programme: Report on the first
three years | Te Hōtaka mō Ngā Whai Wāhitanga me Ngā
Kōwhiringa: He purongo mō ngā tau tuatahi e toru.
Wellington: Te Hiringa Mahara.

[3]
Te Pou. (2023). Mental health and addiction workforce: 2022
primary, community, and secondary healthcare settings.
Auckland: Te
Pou.

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