Men's Health Week Chance To Check In On Your Mental Health
Minister for Mental Health
Men's Health Week is a good and timely reminder that no one should ever feel ashamed or afraid to reach out for support with their mental health challenges in their time of need, Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey says.
'New Zealand has made strides over the last couple of decades in reducing stigma and discrimination when it comes to talking about mental health in New Zealand, however we know that there's still more work needed to continue breaking down the barriers,' Mr Doocey says.
'We know men are less likely to reach out for help and are overrepresented in New Zealand's suicide statistics. This Government is working at pace to increase access to support so we can ensure when people are reaching out for support, they receive it when and where they need it.
'However, we know that there are still too many Kiwis who aren't reaching out in their time of need. That is why this Government is making help more accessible through grassroots organisations and nationally available digital and telehealth services.
'More people are now able to access free counselling sessions through Gumboot
Friday, we've used the Mental Health Innovation Fund to scale up and support great initiatives like Mates in Construction, YouthLine and the Mental Health Foundation.
'This Government has also boosted spending on mental health in the Budget and prioritised frontline services, strengthened the focus on early intervention and prevention to take action earlier when someone is confronting a challenge.
'As New Zealand's first Minister for Mental Health, I've been leading a programme of work to improve access to support and make sure we have the workforce to answer the call when someone needs help.
'Whether it's men's health week or any other day, talking to your mates, family or a mental health practitioner, I would encourage you to have the conversation about how you're really doing. The first step is often the hardest but it's important to remember asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
8 hours ago
- Scoop
Elective Boost Delivers Over 9,500 Additional Procedures So Far
Minister of Health More than 9,500 additional procedures have now been delivered as part of the Government's elective boost, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. 'This is what putting patients first looks like. We are focused on increasing delivery of elective treatments – across both public and private hospitals – to reduce wait times for Kiwis needing procedures like hip replacements or cataract surgery,' Mr Brown says. Through this initiative, Health New Zealand is partnering with private hospitals to expand surgical capacity across the country. The plan aims to deliver over 10,579 additional elective procedures by the end of June – a target now well within reach, with 9,696 procedures completed by the week ending 11 May. Of those, 8,631 were delivered through outsourcing. Common procedures being delivered include: Hip and knee replacements Cataract surgeries Hernia repairs Tonsillectomies Ear operations Mr Brown says the programme is targeting those who've faced the longest delays, with almost 60 per cent of patients having waited over four months for their surgery. 'Our goal is clear – 95 per cent of patients receiving elective treatment within four months by 2030. This is a key health target, and we're getting on with the job of delivering it. 'We are investing a record $30 billion annually in health, with a strong focus on boosting frontline services, reducing waiting times, and ensuring better outcomes for patients. 'By unlocking capacity across the entire health system, we're delivering faster treatment and shorter wait times – and that's exactly what Kiwis deserve,' Mr Brown says.
Otago Daily Times
10 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Migraine treatment ‘lagging'
University of Otago public health senior research fellow and Migraine Foundation co-founder Dr Fiona Imlach says New Zealand is lagging behind other countries when it comes to treating migraines. PHOTO: SUPPLIED When it comes to funding and accessing migraine prevention medication and other therapies, New Zealand is "lagging behind" other countries. University of Otago (Wellington) researchers examined the use of supplements and complementary therapies by 530 Kiwis with migraine disease, and found about half of them turned to treatments other than medication in an attempt to ease their symptoms. The participants were asked about supplements such as magnesium, riboflavin (vitamin B2) and coenzyme Q10 and complementary therapies including acupuncture, biofeedback, neuromodulation devices, meditation, yoga and massage. Study co-author, public health senior research fellow and Migraine Foundation co-founder Dr Fiona Imlach, said many people with migraine did not take medication to prevent migraine attacks, but non-pharmacological approaches could help. "No previous research has looked at the use of these approaches in Aotearoa, so it's a new finding that about half of the 530 survey respondents were currently using a supplement, and even more, 58%, were using complementary therapy." Although most non-pharmacological treatments were considered safe or low risk, the quality of evidence for their effectiveness could be low, Dr Imlach said. The survey focused on treatments that were included in international guidelines on migraine management, including those not easily accessed in New Zealand such as neuromodulation devices, which worked by stimulating nerves in order to change the way pain signals in the brain were processed. However, access to neuromodulation devices was limited and costly and previous distributors had pulled out of the New Zealand market, Dr Imlach said. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES "Neuromodulation devices and other therapies could be beneficial for both patients and for workplaces, by decreasing the number of days people are affected by migraine, improving quality of life and people's ability to work. "These approaches can also be a good option for people who can't or don't want to take medication, such as during pregnancy. "So even though people said they would like to try non-medication treatments as part of their migraine management plan, they can be expensive and hard to find information about," she said. The survey also confirmed there was no single approach to migraine prevention that was universally effective, so people had to use trial and error in the hope of finding relief. "For all of the treatments we asked about, there were many people who had tried them, but they didn't work or had side effects. "There were also those who hadn't tried them before but wanted to. "All of this speaks to the huge need for more effective migraine treatments, both medication and non-medication. "New Zealand is lagging behind other countries with regards to funding and access to migraine-prevention medication and other therapies."
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Government Backing Rural Resilience And Wellbeing
Press Release – New Zealand Government Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson says the package reflects the realities of rural life and the need for practical, locally driven support. Hon Matt Doocey Minister for Mental Health Minister for Rural Communities The government is boosting support for rural resilience and wellbeing announced by Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson. 'We're backing Rural Support Trusts by committing $3 million over the next four years, to help improve rural communities' access to primary mental health services and specialist services,' Mr Doocey says. 'A range of services already exist, this is about making them easier to access, better connected, and focused on delivering support that makes a difference for people in rural communities. 'Whether it's help on the farm, over the phone, or at a local event, we're ensuring rural people know where to turn and can get support when they need it.' This funding is on top of the ongoing funding of $3 million over the next four years allocated to Rural Support Trusts through the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). 'The Government is also investing $2 million of Health funding in the Rural Wellbeing Fund. Building on from Budget announcements this means the Rural Wellbeing Fund will double to $4 million over the next four years,' Mr Doocey says. 'The Rural Wellbeing Fund will be specifically focused on supporting the wellbeing and resilience of hard-working New Zealanders who live outside of the major centres.' Mr Patterson says the package reflects the realities of rural life and the need for practical, locally driven support. 'I am delighted that we are bolstering funding to support those who need help the most – living rurally presents a unique set of challenges which include isolation and lack of services. When added pressures arise, rural people can find themselves facing challenging situations in need of mental wellbeing support. 'This is about investing in the people who drive our primary industries — and making sure they're connected to the right support, whether it's peer networks, wellbeing initiatives, or expert advice,' Mr Patterson says. 'It's about building resilience and supporting rural New Zealand to stay strong, stay productive, and keep powering the country forward.' 'When rural communities mental health and wellbeing are supported, economy is stronger for it,' Mr Doocey says.
