Mental health experts and addition specialists will begin working in emergency departments as part of a trial, as confirmed by the Government.

They'll start out in four large hospitals in July and the scheme will be rolled out across the country, if proven successful.

The Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, says it's clear that the Peer Support workforce needs to be scaled up.

"What we want to do is roll out this new service. It is untested, we want to build the evidence in it."

LISTEN ABOVE

Mental health experts and addition specialists will begin working in emergency departments as part of a trial, as confirmed by the Government.
They'll start out in four large hospitals in July and the scheme will be rolled out across the country, if proven successful.
The Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, says it's clear that the Peer Support workforce needs to be scaled up.
"What we want to do is roll out this new service. It is untested, we want to build the evidence in it."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.