On August 6, the Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, launched Aotearoa New Zealand’s first Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2026-2036.
FASD-CAN has been following the development of the strategy closely. The risk of mental health and substance abuse issues during the life course of people with FASD is much higher than for the general public. Up to 90% of people with FASD have co-morbid mental health issues which include depression, anxiety and a greatly elevated risk of suicide.
The aims of the plan are good – they include delivery of faster access to support, more frontline workers and a better crisis response.
However, there is no mention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
The FASD Action Plan 2025-2028 includes a commitment to establish pathways to mental health and addiction services for people presenting with known or possible FASD and to ensure services are FASD-aware and informed.
In launching the FASD Action Plan, Minister Doocey said. “Investment in FASD training will support growing the mental health and addiction workforce, while peer support for young people with FASD or possible FASD will help build resilience and prevent or minimise the need for mental health and addiction services.”
We're concerned that the emphasis on improving workforce capacity must be accompanied by improving workforce understanding of neurodiversity, both now and in the future.
Steps must be taken to reduce the gaps in service silos our people fall between – disability and mental health services – as well as to reduce suicide risk. And addiction treatment pathways need to be improved, as these often fail to accommodate the brain differences of people with FASD.
FASD-CAN will be monitoring the implementation of this commitment closely to ensure that the national mental health strategy’s high-level commitments lead to funded, real-world support for people with FASD and their whānau.
Access the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy on the MoH website.
Download the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
Access FASD-CAN’s info sheet on FASD, Mental Health and Suicide.
