WELLINGTON, May 29 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand government vowed Wednesday to take mental health and addiction issues seriously by new budgetary input and sustained investment.
The report of an inquiry into mental health and addiction commissioned by the New Zealand government was released and the government has accepted in principle, or agreed to further consideration of 38 of the 40 recommendations of the inquiry panel.
The recommendations from the inquiry panel are described by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as "transformational," ranging from increasing access to publicly funded mental health and addiction services for people with mild to moderate needs, to repeal and replace the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992.
"We will need to build entirely new services, train hundreds of new staff and build new facilities across New Zealand. All this will take significant and sustained investment. That begins with tomorrow's Wellbeing Budget but will take years," said Ardern.
Health Minister David Clark said that for too long mental health has been considered somehow less important than physical health and that has to change.
"Supporting and maintaining people's mental wellbeing must become part of the daily routine of our health services," said Clark.
The detailed budgetary funding for mental health and addictions will be announced along with Thursday's government budget 2019.
