New eating disorder peer support workers expected to speed up access to care

Eight new peer support workers with lived experience of eating disorders are expected to speed up access to care.

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey was in Hamilton on Wednesday to hear from staff in the Waikato Specialist Eating Disorders Service.

Two new peer support roles were being introduced in each of the four regional eating disorder services, employed by Health New Zealand, with the new staff already in place in Wellington and Waikato.

Eating Disorders Carer Support and Eating Disorders Association of New Zealand had been chosen to deliver this support.

"This is especially heartening considering it was only a short time ago I was in Christchurch meeting with the only Health New Zealand-employed peer support worker working in specialist eating disorder services," Doocey said.

The government was committed to reducing wait times and speeding up access which included improving community support for families and carers.

"I have heard from many families who want to know how to better support their loved one," he said.

"We know peer support workers make a big difference. These are people with experience of eating disorders who can play a big role in supporting others through recovery."

Last year, the government refreshed the Eating Disorders Strategy for the first time in 16 years, Doocey said, and increased funding by $4 million a year.

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