Mike King’s Gumboot Friday counselling service for young people will receive $24 million over four years as part of the Government’s upcoming Budget. It will increase the service’s current contracted counsellor pool from 555 to about 855, which will help provide up to 160,000 free counselling sessions for people aged between 5 and 25 over Read more
It’s one year since the Loafers Lodge fire. Loafers Lodge did not have a fire sprinkler system. It was not required to by law. Five men died. Eighty-two people lost their homes. Some lost all their possessions. People were concerned, shocked, grieving. Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge told RNZ after the fire that he hoped Read more
Mental health advocate Mike King is all for getting rid of the Suicide Prevention Office after an announcement that a number of staff would be cut as part of the Ministry of Health’s cost-cutting proposal. Speaking to TVNZ’s Sunday, King, known for his endeavours in the mental health area including the I Am Hope charity, Read more
In addressing the critical concern of mental health in adolescents, the role of school belonging has emerged as a focal point of contemporary research. Despite the increasing recognition of its importance, a comprehensive understanding of how school belonging impacts long-term mental wellbeing has remained elusive. New adolescent mental health study Our new study investigating school Read more
In the midst of the country’s escalating cost-of-living crisis, the Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2024 report spotlights the growing socio-economic challenges confronting New Zealanders. The report, Ngā Tukunga Iho – The Things We Inherit, offers an annual assessment of the country’s social progress – this year especially – children and youth housing crime Read more
School counselling service funds are badly over-stretched, the Association of Counsellors is warning. Some schools are coping – like eight Catholic schools in Dunedin – but only after stretching out their hands to their communities. They’re now getting funded by the Mercy Charitable Outreach Fund. Meanwhile, Catholic Social Services is helping support the service with Read more
Top mental health specialists warn that the number of psychologists and psychiatrists must double to meet patient demand. Practitioners said New Zealand needed 15 psychologists per 100,000 people to meet demand – equating to 770 full-time workers. But Te Whatu Ora estimated the public sector currently employed about 350 workers. Ashley Bertelson, 18, said her Read more
Top mental health specialists warn that the number of psychologists and psychiatrists must double to meet patient demand. Practitioners said New Zealand needed 15 psychologists per 100,000 people to meet demand – equating to 770 full-time workers. But Te Whatu Ora estimated the public sector currently employed about 350 workers. Ashley Bertelson, 18, said her Read more
Todd Muller says his Catholic faith was deeply tested during his ill-fated 53-day stint as National leader. He “really struggled” during a self-described mental breakdown, saying his prayers “weren’t being answered”. But Muller, who will retire from Parliament after this year’s election, says hundreds of people reached out to him after he spoke publicly about Read more
An Auckland mother says the struggle to provide her kids with the most basic items such as food and clothing is taking a toll on her mental health. As food inflation hits a 36-year high and fuel costs go back up, working families are having to juggle between bills, while kids are going to school Read more