New focus on mental health in New Zealand

NZ MENTAL health nurses and specially trained youth workers will be stationed in schools in lower socioeconomic areas in New Zealand as part of a new government push on mental health.

NZ Prime Minister John Key unveiled the $49 million package of initiatives last month to ensure young people with mental health problems receive better, faster and more modern help.

Existing mental health resources would be overhauled and new ideas would be sought through a Social Media Innovations Fund to keep providers of youth services technologically up to date, Mr Key said in a statement.