4. Multi-sector planning and funding
We need to develop a system where population wellbeing, distress and addiction are a multi-sector responsibility and not primarily a health one:
- Trial the removal of mental health and addiction funding from the District Health Boards with a view to localised multi-sector pooling of all planning and funding functions within the next decade.
- Set up district or regional governance of planning and funding led by people with lived experience, whānau, Social Development, Health, Education, Housing, Corrections, ACC and others.
- Māori design and deliver services for Māori.
- Equitably plan and fund all the Big Community responses with flexible and individualised funding models.
- Use incentives and accountability levers for providers to achieve improved social, education, employment, financial, housing, personal, health and mortality outcomes for people with distress and addiction, with an emphasis on outcomes for Māori.
- Test and scale up indigenous, national and international promising and evidence-based practices that enhance Big Community.
The system may require additional funding, but the cost-effective redirection and pooling of existing resources may be sufficient.