{
  "id": 4051705,
  "title": "Mental health crisis looming and urgent investment needed, psychiatrists warn",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/mental-health-crisis-looming-and-urgent-investment-needed",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-28T22:53:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RNZ Business",
    "slug": "rnz-business",
    "url": "https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/health/1169162/mental-health-crisis-looming-and-urgent-investment-needed-psychiatrists-warn"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Psychiatrists are sounding the alarm about an impending crisis in mental health staffing, warning that urgent investment is necessary to prevent a workforce shortage. The Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) revealed that half of the current psychiatry workforce is set to retire within a decade, and one in five positions are vacant. Dr. Mark Lawrence, a RANZCP board director, emphasized the need for increased investment to nearly double the number of psychiatry training places. He explained that there are insufficient senior psychiatrists to supervise trainees, and the current training system is insufficient as well.\n\nThe psychiatrists highlighted the rising psychological distress among New Zealanders, coupled with a significant decrease in access to specialist mental health and addiction services over the past five years. Lawrence stressed the importance of tailoring services to meet the specific needs of Māori and Pasifika communities, as well as individuals with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or those involved with care, protection, and justice services. He pointed out that the 15-25 age group is particularly underserved and faces significant psychological distress, often struggling to navigate the healthcare system.\n\nRANZCP also called for an increase in inpatient beds and expanded school-based supports. Health New Zealand (Health NZ) executive national director of mental health and addiction, Phil Grady, acknowledged the ongoing pressure on mental health and addiction services and recognized the necessity to expand the psychiatry workforce. Grady stated that Health NZ has surpassed its annual workforce target for the sector, with 514 new professionals entering training in 2025/26, including 74 clinical psychology interns and 48 stage one psychiatry registrars.\n\nAdditionally, Health NZ launched the first cohort of the new psychology assistant role, supported by a $28.45 million investment to facilitate its implementation. Although Grady noted that Health NZ's data showed a decrease in the psychiatrist vacancy rate from 20.9% in March 2024 to 15.6% in March 2026, his figures differ from those of the RANZCP. Grady emphasized the growing number of young people experiencing acute mental health challenges, noting that 77.3% of individuals under 25 referred to specialist services were seen within three weeks. He stressed that improving access to mental health care for young people remains a key priority for Health NZ, and the organization is investing in additional mental health infrastructure and service capacity, including new and redeveloped acute and forensic inpatient facilities.",
  "summary": "Half of the current psychiatry workforce is retiring within a decade and one in five positions are vacant, RNZ was told.",
  "key_points": [
    "Half of current psychiatry workforce set to retire within a decade",
    "One in five positions vacant, urgent investment needed",
    "RANZCP calls for doubled training places and tailored services"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}