A Letter from Labour's Damien O'Connor on Mental Health

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Hello Crosbie,

No matter where you live, you deserve access to mental health support. 

Here in New Zealand, half of us will experience a mental illness at some stage of our lives. Your postcode shouldn’t determine whether or not you can access mental healthcare — but for many New Zealanders, it’s been too hard to get the support they need. This is particularly true for those in rural areas, where specialist services can sometimes be hours away.
That’s why, when our Government announced a record mental health package in the Wellbeing Budget last month, we made sure our plans included specialised support for rural communities.

You may have already heard about the mental health service we’re rolling out as part of this package — a new frontline service that will see mental health workers in places like GP offices and medical centres around the country. This will make it easier for everyone, including those who live in rural areas, to get support and advice, and to get it earlier, before small issues become major problems.

But I know for many people in remote areas, even getting to a medical centre can be a barrier to accessing support. That’s why we’ve also invested in boosting phone and online services, to ensure that those who live in the most isolated communities can get help when they need it.

By taking mental health seriously, Labour is helping ensure everyone can get the support they need, when and where they need it.

In the days since our Government announced this mental health package, thousands of people have signed their names to show they support our new approach — an approach that will help more people stay well. If you haven’t already, will you join them? Show you support serious action on mental health too, by signing here. 

Our mental health system won’t be fixed overnight, but this is a significant step forward, and I know this will help make a real difference for our rural communities.

Speaking of rural, I’ll be getting out and about in Mystery Creek over the next few days, as Fieldays kicks off again for another year. If you’re planning to visit, stop by and say ‘hi’. I’m keen to hear your thoughts about the opportunities and challenges facing our regions, and to chat about the ways we can work together to keep rural New Zealand going strong.

Thanks,

Damien O’Connor

Short bio.https://www.labour.org.nz/damienoconnor 
@DamienOConnorMP

P.S. Today, we also announced a new sustainable land package to help our agricultural sector adapt to climate change. You can read more about this — and all we’re doing to support our rural communities — here.

P.P.S. Already signed to show you support serious action on mental health? Ask your friends and family to sign their name to show they support serious action on mental health too.