21 Dec 2023

Huge drop in referrals for mental health disorders

From Morning Report, 8:22 am on 21 December 2023

There has been a massive drop in referrals for mental health disorders over the past eight years.

Te Whatu Ora figures released under the Official Information Act show the biggest drop was in mood disorders, such as depression.

Referrals for these plunged from just over 11,000 to around 3,000.

Experts say the numbers show the mental health system is broken.

Ashleigh McCaull has more.