Children's mental health services 'in crisis': Little

Health Minister Andrew Little has acknowledged children's mental health services are in crisis, and there is "huge pressure" as young people struggle to get the help they need.

In the past decade there has been a 177 percent increase in the number of young people taken to hospital emergency departments because of a mental health incident.

But underfunding and understaffing has meant the specialist mental health services can't keep pace with demand, according to a briefing revealed today by The New Zealand Herald as part of an investigation into our mental health system.

Little has had the document since last September. Asked by Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking this morning whether it showed the mental health system was in crisis, he said it was "close to it".

"It's under huge pressure. There are areas where I know young people in particular are struggling to get the specialist attention that they need, waiting a long time to get it - that is in crisis. Children and adolescent mental health services are in crisis."

He was already aware of the issue due to the amount of correspondence he received from families of young people who struggled to get help, he said.

"We've known our mental health service has been underfunded and run down for a long, long time."

The Government had put resources into the system, focusing on mild to moderate mental health issues, and that was starting to make a difference.

But attention had now turned to the acute and specialist end of the mental health spectrum, which was clearly in need.

Of 900 new mental health specialist roles, 111 were specifically targeted toward young people, while other resources were being put into schools and institutions such as prisons. The programme was about two-thirds of the way through

"That is making a difference, when I look at the correspondence coming into my office, for people who have got access to someone pretty smartly to deal with a mental health issue that had it not got attention at that time would have turned into something much bigger."

But there was a "massive shortage" in clinical psychologists and psychiatrists. The Government was recruiting from overseas and investing in training in New Zealand but it would take 7-10 years for a person to be fully trained, he said.

"We're doing everything we can to get people into those senior roles."

WHERE TO GET HELP

If it is an emergency and you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

For counselling and support

Lifeline: Call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP)

Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

Need to talk? Call or text 1737

Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202

For children and young people

Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234

What's Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm)

For help with specific issues

Alcohol and Drug Helpline: Call 0800 787 797

Anxiety Helpline: Call 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY)

OutLine: Call 0800 688 5463 (0800 OUTLINE) (6pm-9pm)

Safe to talk (sexual harm): Call 0800 044 334 or text 4334

All services are free and available 24/7 unless otherwise specified.

For more information and support, talk to your local doctor, hauora, community mental health team, or counselling service. The Mental Health Foundation has more helplines and service contacts on its website.