Green Party pledge free counselling to under-25s

The Greens described the wait young adults face to see mental health specialists as a "national shame".
DAVE ROWLAND/GETTY IMAGES
The Greens described the wait young adults face to see mental health specialists as a "national shame".

The Green Party is pledging free counselling for all under-25s if in government - with a plan to eventually bring it to everyone.

The counselling is part of a wider $263m youth mental health plan the party launched in Wellington today.

It includes an extra $100m of annual funding for mental health support services with an aim to reduce wait times by hiring more staff.

They cost the under-25 counselling at $116m per year, based on a similar UK policy and Ministry of Health expectations of five per cent of 5-14 year olds and ten per cent 14-24 year olds wanting to access the service.

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As part of this policy they restore funding to Lifeline and fund 24 hour youth crisis assessment teams in every region that needed them.

Shoes - one pair for every suicide in the last year - are placed in The Square in Christchurch. The Green Party are pledging free counselling for all under-25s.
JOSEPH JOHNSON/STUFF
Shoes - one pair for every suicide in the last year - are placed in The Square in Christchurch. The Green Party are pledging free counselling for all under-25s.

These teams are present currently but not everywhere. 

"A third of under 20 year olds who seek appointments have to wait longer than three weeks after being referred to a mental health specialist," the party said in a policy paper, describing the wait times as a "national shame".

The party has previously pledged to reinstate the Mental Health Commission and hold a mental health inquiry.

"Free counselling for any young person who wants to talk about the ups and downs they are experiencing with a trained professional will make a huge difference to people's wellbeing," leader James Shaw said.

"Everyone goes through ups and downs and as a society we can do more to recognise that and support people through hard times, so that the hard times don't get worse."

"The Green Party believes that suicide is preventable and we want to work towards zero suicide within our healthcare system."

The party also intend to integrate "wellness" into the school curriculum.

Labour, who the Greens intend to go into coalition with, have also pledged to hold a mental health inquiry and reinstate the commission.

Their policy calls for a mental health nurse in every high school.

The Green Party policy launch comes a day after World Suicide Prevention Day, when a lobby group delivered 606 pairs of shoes - one for every suicide in the last year - to the lawn of Parliament.

Stuff