Funding boost for life-saving opioid research and nurses’ mental health support

Improving access to a life-saving medicine to tackle opioid overdoses and supporting nurses’ mental health and wellbeing are the two research areas awarded funding.

The grants provide support to established or prospective researchers and/or research providers with ideas and innovations designed to improve health outcomes for New Zealanders.

Dr Huckle and Dr Eng have each received more than $1 million each to support their research, with both projects being carried out over the next three years.

Associate Professor Taisia Huckle - Co-designing better health service delivery to tackle opioid overdoses

With the increased availability of highly potent synthetic opioids in the community, fatal accidental opioid overdoses in Aotearoa New Zealand have been increasing.

This study will focus on of the life-saving medicine naloxone, which rapidly reverses opioid overdoses.

In 2023, Medsafe removed prescription barriers and Pharmac funded naloxone through selected health services, providing community access for the first time in New Zealand. This change was made in response to overdoses involving very potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and nitazenes.

This research will use mixed methods to assess naloxone distribution, identify barriers and enablers, and co-design improvements to health service delivery, enhancing equitable access to this life-saving medicine.

Dr Huckle, from Massey’s SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, says more effective naloxone health service delivery will save lives, deliver significant health gains in the immediate and long term, reduce length of stay in Emergency Departments and be highly cost-effective.

“This work aims to strengthen overdose prevention and response for those at risk of opioid overdose, particularly within communities with higher health needs,” Dr Huckle says.

“This funding will allow us to work with people with lived and living experience and health services and stakeholders to understand and co-design approaches to improve equitable access to naloxone.”

Dr Amanda Eng - Co-creating a mental health care pathway for the New Zealand’s nursing workforce

The New Zealand nursing workforce is facing significant mental health challenges, including elevated risks of anxiety, depression, burnout, and suicide. Despite growing concern, little is known about how nurses' access and experience mental health support, including digital care options.

Dr Eng, from Massey’s Centre for Public Health Research, says the study will use mixed methods to examine access to and effectiveness of mental health support for nurses, identify work-related risk and protective factors and co-create a culturally responsive, evidence-based care pathway tailored to their needs. A national survey of 1,500 nurses, in-depth interviews and stakeholder wānanga will inform the development of a scalable support model.

Dr Eng says the research aims to strengthen prevention, improve access to care, and enhance the quality and effectiveness of support available to nurses “This work will help us better understand nurses’ experiences and co-design practical solutions that improve mental health outcomes.

“Supporting the wellbeing of nurses is critical not only for the workforce, but also for patient safety and the sustainability of New Zealand’s healthcare system,” she adds.

Dr Eng says she’s delighted to receive HRC funding, which will support a multidisciplinary collaboration across the health sector and enable close engagement with nurses throughout the research process.