Publications - Mental Health

Legislation

PRIMHD

Mental Health
Publications

Strategies

2008
Let’s get real Real Skills for people working in mental health and addiction
A national project identifying the knowledge, skills and attitudes people need to deliver effective mental health and addiction services in New Zealand. The project was lead by the Ministry of Health and developed with sector stakeholders.

Te Puāwaiwhero - The Second Maori Mental Health and Addiction National Strategic Framework 2008-2015
This document has been developed to update Te Puawaitanga, the first Māori Mental Health National Strategic Framework, published in 2002 and directly implement Te Tāhuhu, Te Kōkiri and He Korowai Oranga.

New Zealand Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2008-2012
The New Zealand Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2008-2012 outlines the actions required to implement the New Zealand Suicide Prevention Strategy 2006-2016.

Te Raukura: Addressing the mental health and alcohol and other drug needs of children and youth
Te Raukura: Addressing the mental health and alcohol and other drug needs of children and youth describes the key issues the child and youth mental health and alcohol and other drug sector faces and identifies priorties for action over the next three to five years.

Like Minds, Like Mine: Work Plan to 30 June 2009
Outline of planned activities for New Zealand programme to counter stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness.

2007
Like Minds, Like Mine National Plan 2007-2013
Like Minds, Like Mine national plan providing an opportunity to look to the future and to also acknowledge the programme’s successes over the past ten years.

2006
Te Kōkiri: The Mental Health and Addiction Action Plan 2006-2015
Te Kōkiri: The Mental Health and Addiction Action Plan has been developed to directly implement Te Tāhuhu – Improving Mental Health 2005-2015: The Second New Zealand Mental Health and Addiction Plan.

2005
Te Tāhuhu: Improving Mental Health 2005-2015: The Second New Zealand Health and Addiction Plan
Te Tāhuhu: Improving Mental Health outlines Government policy and priorities for mental health and addiction for the 10 years between 2005 and 2015, and provides an overall direction for investment in mental health and addiction. It builds on the current Mental Health Strategy contained in Looking Forward (1994) and Moving Forward (1997), and the Mental Health Commission’s Blueprint for Mental Health Services (1998).

2002
Te Puawaitanga - Māori Mental Health National Strategic Framework
The purpose of this Māori Mental Health Strategic Framework is to provide District Health Boards with a nationally consistent framework for planning and delivery of services for tāngata whaiora and their whānau, so they can meet the Government’s mental health policy objectives for Māori over the next five years.

1998

Blueprint for Mental Health Services in New Zealand: How things need to be (PDF, 407 kB - opens in new window, Mental Health Commission website)
This Mental Health Commission document builds on the initial July 1997 Blueprint working document (www.mhc.govt.nz) Blueprint which was widely distributed and includes changes as a result of feedback received from many people and organisations.

1997
Moving Forward: The National Mental Health Plan - for More and Better Services (link to the Ministry of Health library catalogue)
Moving Forward is the National Mental Health Plan for New Zealand. The Plan is based on the National Mental Health Strategy Looking Forward, which was released in 1994 and which outlined the goals and strategic directions for the development of mental health services over the next ten years. The Plan is available through the Ministry of Health library.

1994
Looking Forward: Strategic Directions for the Mental Health Services (link to the Ministry of Health library catalogue)
The Government has decided to develop a set of strategic directions for New Zealand’s mental health services. This document outlines the goals, principles and national objectives that will reshape New Zealand’s mental health services and is available through the Ministry of Health library.

Key mental health documents

2009
Evaluation of the Primary Mental Health Initiatives: Summary Report

2006
Te Rau Hinengaro: The New Zealand Mental Health Survey
The report includes a chapter on Māori mental health and also contains information by ethnicity which has not previously been available.

Te Rau Hinengaro: The New Zealand Mental Health Survey: Summary
A very brief snapshot of the results of the survey is provided in this report.

National Mental Health Information Strategy: Implementation Plan 2006
The Implementation Plan follows on from the National Mental Health Information Strategy. It outlines progress made towards the goals of the Mental Health Information Strategy and identifies priorities for the future.

2005
Te Orau Ora - Pacific Mental Health Profile
The Ministry of Health's Mental Health directorate has released its first dedicated Pacific report on the mental health of New Zealand's Pacific population, Te Orau Ora: Pacific Mental Health Profile.

Tauawhitia te Wero - Embracing the Challenge: National mental health and addiction workforce development plan 2006 - 2009.
Tauawhitia te Weroaims to reflect the needs of the current workforce, and to provide a strategic focus for changes required to achieve the workforce needed to deliver future mental health and addiction services.

Other mental health documents

2010
Conduct Problems: Effective Programmes for 3-7 year olds
This report is part of the work programme agreed across agencies in September 2007 to improve the quality, co-ordination and effectiveness of behavioural programmes.

2009
Suicide Facts: Deaths and intentional self-harm hospitalisations 2007
This annual statistical publication presents and summarises suicide information received from the New Zealand Mortality Collection, and admissions to hospital for intentional self-harm sourced from the New Zealand National Minimum Dataset.

Evaluation of Youth One Stop Shops
The objective of the Evaluation of Youth One Stop Shops was to assist the Ministry and District Health Boards (DHBs) to understand the current place of youth one stop shops (YOSS) in the continuum of health service provision, and provide an overview of how they provide health services for New Zealand youth.

Coping with Financial Stress: Looking after yourself and your family/whānau during tough economic times
This brochure is for people who may be experiencing stress or mental health problems relating to financial hardship.

Office of the Director of Mental Health – Annual Report 2008
A report on the activities of the Office of the Director of Mental Health for 2008.

Intentional Self-harm Hospitalisations 2007 (provisional)
This publication presents and summarises admissions to hospital for intentional self-harm during 2007, sourced from the New Zealand National Minimum Dataset

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) in New Zealand: What you and your family and whānau need to know
A consumer information package containing what individuals and their families and whānau, need to know when considering ECT as a treatment choice.

Office of the Director of Mental Health Annual Report 2007
A report on the activities of the Office of the Director of Mental Health for 2007.

2008
Suicide Facts: Deaths and Intentional Self-harm Hospitalisations 2006
This annual statistical publication presents and summarises suicide information received from the New Zealand Mortality Collection, and admissions to hospital for intentional self-harm sourced from the New Zealand National Minimum Dataset

Raising the Odds? Gambling behaviour and neighbourhood access to gambling venues in New Zealand
This report presents the key results of a study that investigated whether people's gambling behaviour was associated with their local gambling environment.

Future Directions for Eating Disorders Services in New Zealand (01 April 08)
The Ministry of Health anticipates that District Health Boards will use this document to help guide planning for, and implementation of, improvements in the provision of eating disorders services.

Evaluation of the Home Based Support Service (HBSS) Training Initiative (Jan 08)
An independent evaluation of the Home Based Support Services Training Initiative identified value for support workers, employers, and the sector in general. Refinements were recommended that would further strengthen infrastructure to make training more sustainable.

2007
Suicide Facts: 2005–2006 data (Nov 07)
This report presents a summary of 2005 suicide mortality data and 2006 hospitalisation for intentional self-harm data by total population and key population groups (sex, ethnicity, life cycle stages, deprivation and district health board region).

Office of the Director of Mental Health Annual Report 2006
A report on the activities of the Office of the Director of Mental Health for 2006

Planning for Individual and Community Recovery in an Emergency Event
This document helps health sector organisations work towards good practice principles for providing psychosocial support to promote recovery in an emergency event.

Problem Gambling Intervention Services in New Zealand: 2006 Service-user statistics
This presents an overview of clients who have sought help via Gambling Helpline Ltd and face-to-face problem gambling services in 2006.

Preventing and Minimising Gambling Harm: Three-year service plan 2007–2010
The three-year service plan 2007–2010 outlines funding primary (public health), secondary and tertiary prevention services and research, to progress the goals in the Strategic Plan for Preventing and Minimising Gambling Harm 2004–2010.

Service Audit and Review Tool: Opioid Substitution Treatment in New Zealand
The Service Audit and Review Tool is to be used as a quality tool for opioid treatment services and auditors.

Census of Forensic Mental Health Services 2005
In 2001 the Ministry of Health published Services for People with Mental Illness in the Justice System: Review Findings. This presented a picture of the forensic mental health service in New Zealand at that time, and made recommendations for future service requirements. Since this, in 2005, the Ministry has conducted this census. The census data compares results with the 2001 Review Findings.

2006
Office of the Director of Mental Health – Annual Report 2005
A report on the activities of the Office of the Director of Mental Health.

2005
"Working Together": How the Ministry of Health can obtain and integrate Mental Health Consumer Input and Perspectives in policy, legislative, service and system development work

Guidelines

2010
Seclusion under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992
The purpose of the seclusion guidelines is to identify best practice methods for using seclusion in mental health acute inpatient units, in alignment with the specifications set out in the New Zealand Health and Disability Services Standards.

2007
Victim Notification Guidelines for Directors of Area Mental Health Services and DHB Victim Notification Co-ordinators
These updated victim notification guidelines are to assist Directors of Area Mental Health Services, District Health Board Victim Notification Co-ordinators and others in mental health services and secure facilities who administer the Victims’ Rights Act 2002 notification requirements. They replace guidelines that were issued in April 2000 as section 33 of the Guidelines to the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992.

National Guidelines Interim Methadone Prescribing
Interim Prescribing of methadone for people on opioid treatment waiting lists assists in reducing withdrawal symptoms, reduce opioid drug craving and thus contributing to reducing other health and social harms.

Guidelines for Assessing Substance Dependence and Risk of Re-offending of People Sentenced under Section 65 of the Land Transport Act 1998
Guidelines for the assessment of recidivist drink or drugged drivers, for the purpose of sections 65 and 100 of the Land Transport Act 1998.

2003
Opioid Substitution Treatment New Zealand Practice Guidelines
These Opioid Substitution Treatment New Zealand Practice Guidelines provide a framework for the effective, safe and responsive delivery of opioid substitution treatment and will supersede the National Protocol for Methadone Treatment in New Zealand (1996) from 1 February 2003.

Guidelines for District Inspectors Appointed under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992
The Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Amendment Act 1999 contains a number of changes to the Act that affect the powers, duties, and functions of District Inspectors. The guidelines have been prepared with the intent of providing guidance to District Inspectors on the exercise of their powers, duties, and functions pursuant to the Act and subsequent 1999 amendments.

2002
Guidelines to the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992
Section 130(a) of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 (the Act) sets out the authority of the Director-General of Health to issue guidelines from time to time. Since 1992 the Ministry of Health has published a number of guidelines (see below) pertaining to the Act.

Guidelines for Medical Practitioners using Sections 110 and 110A of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992
The following guidelines are intended to provide users of the Act with some guidance on issues of its interpretation and practical application when the urgent sedation of a person is required.

Guidelines for the Role and Function of Duly Authorised Officers under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992
The following guidelines are intended to provide users of the Act with some guidance on issues of its interpretation and practical application as to the role and function of Duly Authorised Officers (DAOs).

Guidelines for the Role and Function of Directors of Area Mental Health Services
The following guidelines are intended to provide Hospital and Health Services and Directors of Area Mental Health Services (DAMHSs) with information and guidance on the role of the Director of Area Mental Health Services.

Involving Families: Guidance for involving families and whanau of mental health consumers/tangata whai ora in care, assessment and treatment processes
These guidance notes have been prepared to assist mental health staff to work effectively with families, and they will also assist families to establish and maintain working relationships with mental health services and staff.

1998
Guideline for Clinical Risk Assessment and Management in Mental Health Services (available to download on the Ministry of Health's online library catalogue)
A frequent finding in inquiries into failures of mental health services, both here and overseas, is a lack of robust risk assessment and management. It is vital that clinicians working in mental health services are well informed and appropriately skilled in the assessment and management of the range of risks that they are presented with. These guidelines have been written to assist in this process of development.

1997
Making Links: Guidelines on Service Co-ordination for Children and Young People with Severe Mental Health Problems
The Making Links Guidelines describe how effective service coordination can be developed in each community between specialist mental health services, and services provided by the Education and Social Welfare sectors.

1995
Audit of guidelines for discharge planning for people with mental illness (link to the Ministry of Health library catalogue)
In 1993, the Ministry of Health issued "Guidelines for Discharge Planning for People with Mental Illness" with the stated aim of audit of compliance with the guidelines. This audit tool is designed to assist with that audit process. This publication is available through the Ministry of Health library.

For further information about Ministry Mental Health publications email MentalHealth@moh.govt.nz

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Page last updated: 10 March 2010