Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey has announced a funding increase for eating disorder services, alongside the launch of New Zealand’s ‘refreshed’ strategic approach to tackling the issue.
Speaking during Body Image and Eating Disorder Awareness Week, Doocey said the $4 million annual boost represents a 20 percent increase in investment, bringing total funding for eating disorder services to more than $23 million each year.
“Support for eating disorders is best provided using a full continuum of care across prevention, primary health care, early intervention and community services, along with specialist and inpatient services for people with the highest needs,” Doocey said.
The funding package includes:
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Rolling out peer support to all regional eating disorder services
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Creating community-based support for families and carers
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Increasing the capacity of specialist eating disorder services
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Expanding prevention and early intervention programmes
Doocey said the refreshed strategy would ensure services remain fit for purpose and responsive to community needs.
“Our mental health plan is working. We’re turning the corner on reducing wait times and increasing the mental health workforce,” he said. “Recent data shows the frontline Health NZ mental health workforce has grown around 10 percent since we came into Government, and over 80 percent of people are being seen within three weeks for specialist services.”
He said the Government was committed to ensuring people could access help when they needed it.
