Psychiatrists say today’s budget delivers some notable investments in health, but mental health is a missing key piece of the puzzle that needs ongoing attention.
- Budget 2026 makes some welcome investments in health, including crisis response and frontline services, but falls short of a significant uplift in mental health and addiction care
- Continued demand and workforce pressures mean mental health services remain under strain, despite steady overall health spending
- Concerns raised about time‑limited mental health initiatives not being continued, limited efforts to reduce health inequities and lack of clear funding for the new Mental Health Act implementation
- Psychiatrists say stronger, sustained investment is needed to improve access, particularly for people with severe and complex mental illness
28/05/2026
New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa Online on Budget 2026:
https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/article/undoctored/budget-2026-budget-steady-mental-health-remains-under-pressure-say-nz