Peer Support Workers Strengthen Mental Health Care in Dunedin Hospital ED

New Zealand’s Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, has praised the expansion of peer support services into Dunedin Hospital’s Emergency Department, calling it a vital step toward a more compassionate and effective mental health response. The initiative, part of a nationwide rollout, ensures that people arriving at hospital in mental health crisis have access to trained peer support specialists — individuals who use their lived experience to guide and comfort others through some of their most difficult moments.

“For people arriving at an emergency department in mental health crisis, the experience can feel overwhelming,” said Doocey during a visit to meet the new peer support team. “Having a peer support specialist alongside them, someone with lived experience who understands what they’re going through, can make a huge difference.”

Expanding a Proven Model

Dunedin Hospital is now the sixth major hospital in New Zealand to introduce peer support specialists, following the successful implementation of the programme at Middlemore, Auckland City, Wellington, Christchurch, and Waikato Hospitals since September 2024.

Early results from those hospitals have shown significant benefits for both patients and healthcare staff. People experiencing crisis have reported feeling more understood, less alone, and more connected to ongoing care after their interactions with peer support workers. Clinicians have also observed smoother transitions from emergency departments to community-based services, improving long-term outcomes and reducing repeated crisis presentations.

“We’ve already seen the impact this service is having in other hospitals,” Doocey noted. “It’s helping people feel heard, supported, and more connected to ongoing care. I’m pleased we’re moving quickly to expand this model across New Zealand so more people can benefit.”

Partnership with Life Matters Suicide Trust

The Dunedin service is being delivered by the Life Matters Suicide Trust, a respected local organisation that has provided peer-led mental health support and suicide prevention advocacy since 2014. Their team will now bring that community-based expertise inside the hospital, complementing their existing drop-in centre and crisis support services in the region.

“Knowing there is someone in the room who has walked a similar journey and come through it can give people real hope,” Doocey said. “Peer support specialists also play an important role in linking people back into community services, helping to set them up for better outcomes once they leave hospital.”

Life Matters’ Chief Executive, Corinda Taylor, said the inclusion of peer support workers in the hospital’s emergency department represents a “transformative approach” to crisis care. “Our peer workers bridge the gap between the hospital system and the community. They show people that recovery is possible and help them access the right support once they leave the emergency setting,” she said.

A New Era for Mental Health in New Zealand

Doocey, New Zealand’s first-ever Minister for Mental Health, has made strengthening the peer support workforce a key pillar of his national mental health strategy. He described the current expansion as “part of a silent revolution” within the sector — one that places empathy, experience, and connection at the centre of recovery.

“Peer support specialists bring something that no amount of formal training can replace — genuine understanding,” he said. “Their expertise and empathy are invaluable in our mental health system.”

Since becoming Minister, Doocey has advocated for a mental health model that prioritises faster access to care, more frontline workers, and better crisis response systems. The peer support initiative aligns closely with those goals, bridging gaps in services that have long been identified by both patients and clinicians.

Looking Ahead: Building a Stronger Workforce

The Government’s long-term vision is to ensure that peer support becomes an integral part of every major hospital’s mental health response, creating a system that values both clinical and experiential knowledge.

“Peer support workers are part of our mental health plan for faster access to support, more frontline workers, and a better crisis response,” Doocey said. “This Government is focused on building a stronger workforce so that when people take the brave step of asking for help, that support is available.”

With the programme’s success in six hospitals already demonstrating its impact, further expansions are expected before the end of 2025. As Doocey noted, “This is just the beginning of a more connected, compassionate approach to mental health in New Zealand — one that meets people where they are, and walks with them toward recovery.”