7. Question No. 7—HealthMATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 7—Health7. MATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri) to the Minister of Health: How does he reconcile Dr Susanna Every-Palmer's research that one year after the first lockdown levels of psychological distress remained elevated even though there were no lockdown restrictions in place with his comment that Wellbeing dipped slightly during March-April 2020's Alert Level 4 but quickly recovered as alert levels decreased" and does he now recognise that higher levels of mental distress have continued to be felt in the community as a result of COVID-19?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Health): The member is referring to two different conclusions drawn from two different studies with completely different methodologies. I'm advised that Dr Susanna Every-Palmer's conclusions were drawn from a survey of roughly 2000 people in April 2021 as a follow-up to a survey she conducted in April last year. My comments related to the Ministry of Health New Zealand health pulse survey of 29000 New Zealanders conducted last year from April to September. In response to the second part of the question it is a statement of the bleeding obvious that the disruption caused by and the health risk created by the COVID-19 pandemic has had an effect on the mental wellbeing of New Zealanders. We know there are elevated levels of anxiety in the community and that is why we have invested in a number of initiatives to provide additional support to people during lockdown.Matt Doocey: In response to the Minister's answer "bleeding obvious" what actions has the Minister taken to ensure mental health support for the 35 percent of tourism operators where mental health concerns have been identified as a result of the impacts of COVID-19?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: Earlier this year my colleague the Hon Stuart Nash made a specific announcement and launched a specific package of mental health support for tourism operators.Matt Doocey: What actions has the Minister taken to ensure mental health support for the 50 percent of small-business owners where mental health concerns have been identified as a result of the impacts of COVID-19?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: By way of contrast to the neglect shown to the mental health sector by the previous Government over nine years this Government has invested heavily in the mental health support and services in this country. So the additional 560 fulltime-equivalent people who now stand at the front line in GP clinics and comparable clinics are available to support people whether small-business owners or otherwise with their mild to moderate mental health issues both through lockdowns such as this and at any other time during the year.Matt Doocey: In response to the Minister's answers about the front-line mental health services what does he say to the tourism operators and small-business owners who might be registered at the over 70 percent of GP practices who still don't deliver that front-line mental health service two years after it was announced?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I say to those people that in addition to that particular programme of work which is a four- to five-year programme of work that we are roughly halfway through we have provided online help as well: telehealth services including 1737 and expanded and boosted that service; and for younger people we have in fact even just recently provided additional funding to services such as Youthline OutLine and we've recently called for quick bids for others providing mental health support to young people particularly to Māori and Pacific populations.Matt Doocey: Why was funding stopped for the successful It's All Right campaign which provided COVID-19 - related mental health promotion and awareness resources last year in the lockdown? Hon ANDREW LITTLE: This Government has continued a range of psychosocial support services that were started during lockdown 2020 and continue now. These include digital wellbeing services and they include Whakatau Mai wellbeing sessions Staying on Track Small Steps and Getting Through Together. There is a range of online and telehealth services available to New Zealanders. Matt Doocey: Point of order Mr Speaker. I specifically asked why was funding stopped for a specific programme. SPEAKER: Yes and if the member's original question had referred to that specific programme then the member could expect a specific answer. There are a series of very good rulings including that from my predecessor—who I know the member knows well—which indicate that to get a specific answer you've got to ask a specific question. Matt Doocey: Thank you very much for that ruling Mr Speaker. My supplementary: with younger people reporting higher rates of COVID-19 - related mental distress what actions has he taken since last year's lockdown to address the doubling of the number of children who are waiting more than eight weeks for treatment? Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I refer to the measures that I have already referred to in this session that the Government has taken in terms of online and telehealth services. The Ministry of Health continues to work with those DHBs who are experiencing elevated levels of demand for acute services and that is a piece of ongoing work. Hon James Shaw: What extra support is the Government making available to front-line youth mental health services in Auckland during the lockdown? Hon ANDREW LITTLE: In about the first week of this lockdown this Government because of the extraordinary level of demand that was being experienced by Youthline and OutLine to telehealth services that are available to young people we provided additional support—$275000—to Youthline additional funding to OutLine and we have recently called for bids in a very quick format for other services that are providing support to particularly rangitahi and young Pacific people. SPEAKER: Members that concludes oral questions."