Canterbury mental health funding is getting a major boost, after the Government came under pressure to give more support to the region.

$20 million extra will be spent over the next three years on extra staff, online addiction support, and specialist mental health services.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said after last month's earthquake, they reviewed the levels of support available - but he denies it's a response to public pressure.  

"Certainly services down there have been stretched at times and the clinicians have been working very hard.  

"The research shows the peak time for mental health issues and stresses is about five years after a major earthquake."  

Labour, however, doesn't think it's enough.  

Acting health spokesperson David Clarke claims it's still $16 million short of the national average.  

"Canterbury shouldn't be scraping just to get the funding other areas get," said Mr Clarke.  

"There were always going to be enormous mental health pressures in Canterbury after the earthquake, but the government has insisted on blundering along with a business as usual approach."