The study analysed 26847 mental health callouts - or 5.7 percent of total callouts between July 2022 and June 2023. Photo: ODT FilesA study into thousands of ambulance callouts for mental health shows most were non-urgent, and should have been managed in the community. The study, published in the NZ Medical Journal on Friday, analysed 26847 mental health callouts - that was 5.7 percent of total callouts between July 2022 and June 2023 - before police began to retreat from mental health callouts. It also points out that addressing socio-economic determinants of mental health, like financial strain, unemployment and poor access to healthcare services, could improve people's mental health. $3.5m annual funding boost to specialist mental health services for infants, children and teens in Tairāwhiti, Counties Manukau, and Waitematā.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 26, 2026 18:44 UTC