Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey has announced quarter three results for mental health and addiction targets, showing performance gains across all three access measures, with four of the Government's five targets now achieved.
In the most recent quarter, 84,345 people received primary mental health support, compared with 73,239 people during the same period one year earlier. Wait time performance has also improved, with 83.7% of people now receiving primary support within one week, above the 80% target.
For specialist services, 82.2% of people are now receiving care within three weeks, also exceeding the 80% benchmark. The emergency department target remains unmet, with 68.5% of mental health patients admitted, transferred or discharged within six hours, against a 95% target.
Workforce growth has accompanied the access improvements. Health New Zealand's frontline mental health workforce expanded by 11% over the period, while clinical psychology internships rose from 40 in 2023 to 74 in 2026. 514 new mental health workers have been trained, exceeding the target of 500.
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission's latest report confirmed progress is being made, with vacancy rates dropping from 11% in 2022 to 8% in 2025. The Commission noted that "what gets measured gets done" in relation to the target framework.