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The New Zealand government has set aside new funding for Whakarongorau Aotearoa New Zealand Telehealth Services to develop an online platform for navigating mental health services.
In a media release, Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey announced that a "mental health AI navigation platform" will soon allow users to search for available mental health services near them.
"People will be able to see what support is available in their area and in some instances, even book with them directly," the minister said.
"Online tools will also be available to those reaching out on the platform, allowing us to intervene early and prevent problems from escalating," he added.
WHY IT MATTERS
The lack of knowledge of available support is one major reason behind the unmet mental health needs of one-third of children and more than a quarter of adults, according to Minister Doocey. He said that it also does not help that "the mental health system is too fragmented."
The upcoming digital platform is being funded and developed to boost the visibility of available telehealth services, as well as in-person options (mental health practitioners and Gumboot Friday councillors) nationwide.
"Most people would be surprised by how much support exists – which is why this platform aims to increase New Zealanders' knowledge of what support is available," Minister Doocey said.
"With a digital front door, Kiwis can access a tool that helps triage and guide them where to go and what to do."
THE LARGER CONTEXT
The announcement of a new digital front door for mental health follows the July launch of a 24/7 online GP service with eight providers. A month prior, in June, Minister Doocey announced NZ$1.97 million ($1.2 million) funding for Tend Health to deliver a digital primary mental health and addiction service in two years.
It has been almost a year since Whakarongorau transferred to Microsoft's local hyperscale cloud. The service has been providing free, government-funded, and 24/7 telehealth services, including support for mental health and domestic abuse, across seven digital channels for about a decade now.
In July, Whakarongorau introduced a cloud-based platform that connects Healthline, the free over-the-phone health advice service, with different healthcare providers, allowing nurses and paramedics to book appointments for callers who have been advised to see a general practitioner.
The Ministry of Health's recently announced deployment of AI scribes across emergency departments also covers mental health crisis teams – another evidence of ongoing innovations in mental health care delivery.
