People with mental health and addiction needs will have better access to Covid-19 vaccinations, other immunisations and health checks thanks to grants from a new $2 million fund.

The Covid-19 Vaccine and Immunisation Peer Support Fund has awarded 14 grants to 19 peer support organisations across Aotearoa, including the Otago Mental Health Support Trust in Central.

The organisation will recruit peer support staff to work across the lower South Island in partnership with local organisations and Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) districts to support their communities with Covid-19 vaccination. 

Peer support workers have lived experience of mental health needs and addiction, helping them build connections with people experiencing mental health and addiction needs and their whānau.

 “People with mental health and addiction needs have a higher risk of getting seriously sick from Covid-19, and it is important they are able to easily access vaccinations to protect themselves and their whānau,”  Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand public health service national director Dr Nick Chamberlain said.

 “[The] funding also enables a holistic approach to each person’s health and wellbeing needs, supporting access to other preventative services such as health checks and influenza vaccinations.

“Significant work has already been done to ensure the vaccination rollout meets the needs of these communities, including setting up vaccination centres with low sensory options, providing support for people with anxiety and needle phobia, and organising accessible transport.”

Nick said there is still work to be done and the grants will strengthen some of the vital community and sector-led peer support services that have proven effective through the pandemic.

The grants will be used for a range of initiatives such as setting up helplines, establishing community outreach programmes, and providing transport to vaccination clinics.

The Ministry of Health worked with the mental health and addictions sector to establish the new fund, with particular support from Platform Trust, the Equally Well collective and Te Pou.

The fund’s focus on initiatives involving peer support workers follows a key recommendation of He Ara Oranga: The Report of the Government Enquiry into Mental Health and Addiction, which recommended strengthening the role in the sector of people with lived experience of mental health and addiction issues.

For more on Otago Mental Health Support Trust click here.