Photo: MadRolly
16,000 fewer people sought help from specialist mental health and addiction services than three years ago.
But the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission - which has reported the figure - says this is not due to decreasing need, but to significant workforce shortages.
The Commission's data shows in the year-ended June 2024 there were 176,261 people who used specialist services, down from the 192,463 who sought help in the year ended June 2021.
The decrease is mostly for mental health clients, rather than those battling an addiction, with non-government organisations seeing a sharper decrease than public health services funded through Te Whatu Ora.
Significantly, young people between 19 and 24 - experienced the largest relative decrease in accessing a specialist service.
The chief executive of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Karen Orsborn joins Kathryn to discuss.
