New Zealand — Smaller non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are set to benefit from easier access to mental health support funding following a decision by the government to lower the funding threshold. The change is expected to allow more organizations to contribute to the government’s vision of faster access to mental health services for New Zealanders.
Matt Doocey, the Minister for Mental Health, announced the adjustment during his address at the Platform Trust Members Day on Thursday. The lower threshold is part of the Mental Health Innovation Fund, which has a total pool of $10 million available over two years. Some of this funding has already been allocated to various organizations.
Lowering the Funding Requirement
Previously, organizations were required to match any funding they received with at least $250,000. However, following sector feedback, this requirement has been reduced to $100,000, making the fund accessible to a broader range of smaller organizations.
Doocey emphasized the importance of the change, stating:
“This fund was created in consultation with NGOs, so it’s important that, if changes are made, they are made following feedback from the sector. By lowering the match funding threshold, more NGOs will benefit, but the real winners are New Zealanders looking to access timely mental health support.”
The change ensures that smaller NGOs, which may have fewer resources, can now compete for funding to deliver crucial mental health services. Doocey noted that these initiatives would directly contribute to the government’s vision of enhancing mental health support across the country.
Funding Criteria and Priorities
To access the Mental Health Innovation Fund, organizations must demonstrate their proposals can achieve the following:
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Increase access to mental health and addiction support
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Reduce demand on public specialist mental health and addiction services
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Develop capacity in the mental health and addiction workforce
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Utilize technology to improve productivity
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Deliver scalable solutions for addressing unmet mental health needs
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Achieve a positive social return on investment, with supporting evidence
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Produce positive outcomes for groups that have historically faced poorer mental health outcomes
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Proposals must be co-funded on a dollar-for-dollar matched basis
Organizations like MATES in Construction, The Mental Health Foundation, YouthLine, Wellington City Mission, Rotorua Youth One Stop Shop, and the Sir John Kirwan Foundation have already received funding in the first round of the initiative.
Minister’s Priorities and Focus for the Year
Doocey also highlighted his key priorities for the upcoming year, including efforts to reduce mental health and addiction wait times. He stated:
“We are the first government to introduce specific mental health targets, and the initiatives funded to date are taking pressure off the public system and using a workforce that sits outside it.”
The Minister reiterated that the government is committed to exploring every option to ensure that New Zealanders have timely access to the mental health support they need when they need it. He also stressed the importance of enabling NGOs to deliver innovative projects that can accelerate access to better mental health services across the country.
This change in funding requirements is expected to empower a greater number of NGOs to deliver impactful mental health initiatives that will ultimately improve outcomes for many New Zealanders in need of support.
