Government Welcomes Transition to Mental Health-Led Crisis Response

Starting in November 2024, Health NZ and the NZ Police will streamline the handover process for voluntary mental health assessments in emergency departments.

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and Police Minister Mark Mitchell have endorsed the recent announcement by Health NZ and the New Zealand Police, marking the transition towards a stronger mental health-led response for individuals requiring crisis mental health support.

Starting in November 2024, Health NZ and the NZ Police will streamline the handover process for voluntary mental health assessments in emergency departments. Additionally, higher thresholds will be set for Police attendance at mental health facilities and for assisting with transportation requests. This shift represents the initial phase of a broader transition towards a mental health-focused approach for those in distress.

“The Government is deeply committed to improving mental health outcomes for New Zealanders,” said Mr. Doocey. “For too long, individuals seeking crisis support have often encountered uniformed officers, which can exacerbate their distress. People experiencing mental health crises are not criminals; they deserve a response rooted in mental health care, not in criminal justice.”

Police Minister Mark Mitchell emphasized that while Police will continue to respond to mental health incidents where there is an immediate risk to life and safety, the current reliance on Police as the first point of contact for mental health crises is unsustainable.

“Our Police officers do an outstanding job with great empathy, but they are not trained mental health professionals,” Mr. Mitchell noted. “We want to ensure that people receive the right care at the right time from the right professionals, allowing our frontline officers to focus more on core policing duties to keep communities safe. The transition to a mental health-led approach requires a careful and measured process, and I fully support the collaborative efforts of Police and Health NZ to achieve this.”

Mr. Doocey also expressed disappointment over the previous cancellation of the Mental Health Co-Response Service by the Labour Government. “The National Government had allocated $8 million to trial a program that dispatched mental health workers on crisis callouts, but unfortunately, that funding was cut under Labour. We are now prioritizing mental health, as demonstrated by our current actions and the ongoing work to implement a five-year transition plan towards a multi-agency 111 response.”

“In the end, our goal is to provide the best possible support for both those experiencing mental distress and the victims of crime,” Mr. Doocey concluded. “The new approach we are transitioning to aims to ensure that individuals receive the appropriate care from the appropriate professionals.”