$24 Million Allocated to Expand Gumboot Friday’s Youth Counselling

• The coalition government confirms $24 million funding for I Am Hope.
• Funding aims to provide free mental health counselling for over 15,000 youths.
• Opposition demands transparency in mental health service procurement.

The coalition government has confirmed a $24 million investment over four years for the I Am Hope initiative Gumboot Friday, aimed at providing mental health counselling to young people. This announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey, alongside mental health campaigner Mike King and I Am Hope chair Naomi Ballantyne, at Parliament.

Peters stated the funding would enable the charity to offer free mental health counselling services to over 15,000 young New Zealanders annually, significantly expanding its reach. This move follows a commitment in the NZ First-National coalition agreement, which included an extra $6 million for the charity.

During the announcement, Doocey emphasized the importance of prevention and early intervention in mental health care, highlighting Gumboot Friday’s crucial role in helping youths with mild to moderate mental health needs access counselling services sooner. Research has shown that every dollar invested in I Am Hope yields a social return of $5.70.

King assured that every cent of the $24 million would go directly to counsellors. He expressed gratitude to the coalition government for their support and mentioned that the funding would allow the charity to hire an additional 300 counsellors. King also stressed the data-driven nature of their approach, noting that interactions between parents are a significant concern for young people.

The opposition, however, called for more transparency in the procurement of mental health services. Labour’s Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary criticized Doocey for leveraging the charity’s reputation without a transparent procurement process. She argued that the funding should be managed with clear standards to ensure value for money and avoid conflicts of interest.

Despite these concerns, Doocey pointed to further planned improvements in mental health crisis response, aiming to shift from a criminal justice response to a health-focused one for mental health emergencies.

The $24 million funding, part of the National-New Zealand First coalition agreement, will enable the I Am Hope Foundation to provide free mental health counselling for young people aged 5 to 25 through the Gumboot Friday initiative. This effort aligns with the government’s commitment to enhancing access to mental health services, supporting the workforce, and focusing on early intervention.