Age Concern New Zealand welcomes the opportunity to submit on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Bill. We value this opportunity to comment on legislation that will impact significantly on all New Zealanders. Mental health and wellbeing is important for all of us. We all experience good and poorer mental wellbeing in our own lives and the lives of those around us. New Zealand has persistently high suicide rates, as well as high levels of harm from alcohol, other drugs, gambling and family violence, including elder abuse and neglect.
We applaud Government placing priority on mental health and wellbeing through the introduction of wellbeing indicators and a wellbeing budget. We also support the establishment of a Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission as proposed in this Bill.