Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey announced a lower limit to access funding, Photo: Dom Thomas
Smaller NGOs are set to benefit from funding for mental health support, the Minister for Mental Health says, as the government lowers the threshold required to access it.
Matt Doocey said the lower funding limit will help "clear the way" for more organisations to contribute to the government's "visions" of faster access to mental health support.
As part of the government's Mental Health Innovation Fund, $10 million is up for grabs over two years - some of which has already been allocated.
Organisations looking to access that funding were required to match it with at least $250,000.
Following feedback from the sector, organisations will now only have to front up $100,000 meaning smaller organisations will be eligible.
"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," said Doocey said.
He made announcement on Thursday while speaking to the NGO sector at the Platform Trust Members Day.
"I am pleased to be announcing today there is now a lower limit required to access match funding. We have gone from requiring at least $250,000 per application to $100,000.
"This means more NGOs will benefit, but the real winners are New Zealanders looking to access timely mental health support."
MATES in Construction, The Mental Health Foundation, YouthLine, Wellington City Mission, Rotorua Youth One Stop Shop and the Sir John Kirwan Foundation all received funding in the first round.
Proposals to access the fund will need to show they can address the following:
- Increases access to mental health and addiction support
- Protects public specialist mental health and addiction services by reducing demand
- Develops capacity in the mental health and addiction workforce
- Uses technology to drive productivity
- Delivers scalable solutions for unmet need
- Returns positive social return on investment (with evidence)
- Achieves positive outcomes for target population groups that have evidence of poorer mental health outcomes than other groups
- Will be co-funded on a dollar-for-dollar matched funding basis.
Doocey also spoke about his priorities for the year, including bringing down mental health and addiction wait times.
"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."
Doocey said the government has a responsibility to look at "every option we can to ensure New Zealanders have timely access to mental health support where and when they need it."
"It is vital that we enable NGOs to deliver innovative projects and initiatives that increase faster access to better mental health support across New Zealand."
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