BUDGET 2025: Fails to back proven mental health solutions, say Counsellors

The New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) says the 2025 Budget is a missed opportunity to strengthen proven mental health initiatives already working, especially for children and young people.

NZAC President Sarah Maindonald welcomes new funding for learning support, and hopes the significant investment will go some way to supporting counselling for children with psychological distress leading to behavioural issues.

However, the absence of dedicated investment for proven, early mental health interventions like school guidance counsellors is disappointing.

“It’s encouraging to see the Government focus on early intervention for tamariki and rangatahi who need extra support.

“But we are concerned that some of the most effective, evidence-based solutions, like the Awhi Mai Awhi Atu pilot in primary, intermediate and some secondary schools, have once again been overlooked.”

The pilot, which places counsellors directly into school settings, has shown early signs of improving student engagement, attendance, and resilience.

Maindonald believes scaling it nationally would be a smart and immediate step toward relieving pressure on children’s mental health, longer waitlists, and under-resourced counsellors.

“Our school guidance counsellors are already stretched thin. Students are presenting with increasingly complex issues, and these are issues we can address earlier, but only if the tools and support are properly funded,” Maindonald says.

“If the Government gave as much attention to the mental health of New Zealanders as it does to ‘going for growth’, we might not be in a position where organisations like Youthline are reporting the highest demand in their 50-year history.

“Or where UNICEF is ranking us last out of 36 OECD and EU countries for child and youth mental health. These are devastating reports and statistics that have become, shamefully, common.”

The Association’s 3,300 members work across a wide range of sectors affected by Budget decisions, including health, education, corrections, justice, and community services.

What’s needed now is follow-through, Maindonald says, and funding that strengthens the existing workforce and supports what is already known to work.

“Counsellors are already embedded in many of the systems this Budget touches.

“We know what’s happening on the ground. We don’t need to start from scratch. We need to back the people and programmes that are already making a difference.”