The Mental Health Foundation says National's promised dedicated Minister isn't the only way forward.
National's new policy also includes 100,000 free counselling sessions for the immediate impacts of Covid-19.
The changes would underpin a "Zero Suicides" framework - with the ultimate goal of reducing suicides.
Boss Sean Robinson told Heather du Plessis-Allan creating a special Minister could be a good idea, but fundamentally we need strong leadership in Parliament to push a mental health agenda forward.
"So whether that's a Minister for Mental Health, whether that's the Minister of Health, it really comes down to the person  and how much clout they get in cabinet." 
Robinson says that Zero Suicides is the name of an international approach, and that everyone is ultimately aiming for that, even if it is not totally realistic. 
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