Community Mental Health Services
Te Whare Mahana’s Community Mental Health (CMH) service evolved out of the specific needs of the Golden Bay community and works in conjunction with local GPs, visiting specialists, and other agencies. We assist local people towards achieving wellness and independence in their lives in the short or long term.
According to the Like Minds, Like Mine website – 47% of New Zealanders will experience mental illness or distress in their lifetimes. Our multi-disciplinary team of mental health clinicians have backgrounds in social work, psychology, nursing and education, and provide ongoing community support to local clients and family/whānau with specifically identified mental health needs. Our work includes assessments, education and intervention where required.
Community Mental Health acts as the 24/7 Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (Ph: 03 5257647) for Golden Bay, often working in conjunction with Golden Bay Community Health and local Police to provide support to both client and family/whānau in crisis.
How to refer
Clients may refer themselves to the service or be referred by their GP, relatives, friends or other community agencies by contacting us directly,
- An initial assessment determines whether the client meets the criteria for our service. Should they not meet service criteria, or be better helped elsewhere, they will be referred to the appropriate agency.
- Following an assessment, a Case Manager is appointed. Together the client and case manager create an individual treatment plan. Support is offered to the client according to individual needs and may be on a short or long-term basis.
Services
24 hours / 7 days per week psychiatric emergencies
Community Mental Health Service provides a 24 hour, 7 days per week on-call emergency psychiatric response and support. This service helps clients link to other services as required and provides support for the person and their family/whānau in crisis. We work in collaboration with the local medical centre and police services as required.
For the psychiatric emergency service please dial 525 7647.
In the case of a medical emergency please dial 111.
Home-based support
We offer home-based support to help people develop independent living skills and social competence in a community. Support workers spend an agreed number of hours in an eligible person’s home providing personal support to attain increased independence and community connectedness.
To receive home-based support, a client must first be assessed by the CMH team to determine if the client meets the criteria for this service and to establish the client’s individual needs
Accommodation
In conjunction with Mohua Social Services and Women’s Refuge, CMH offers short-term respite accommodation for people and other service providers. As well as Castle Place and The Community Ark, CMH is affiliated with ‘Kotuku’ respite accommodation in Upper Moutere.
Castle Place
Long-term secure and affordable accommodation in Takaka is available for rent for people with mental health and/or social issues whose housing needs have proven difficult to meet.
Castle Place Housing is made up of five single-bedroom flats, developed in 2001 as a joint initiative between Te Whare Mahana Trust and Mohua Social Services. Castle Place may also be available for emergency housing or respite.
These Housing New Zealand-owned properties are administered by Te Whare Mahana Trust via a separate Management Committee made up of Te Whare Mahana staff, Mohua Social Services and Women’s Refuge.
The Community Ark
Short-term emergency respite accommodation is provided for in a self-contained cottage called The Community Ark.
Peer Support
The Peer Support model focuses on recovery, and is a concept that has grown globally since the 1970s in response to the institutionalised medical model in mental health. Peer Support is based on the notion that it is in relationships that we create identity, define ourselves and can ultimately heal and recover within a culture of supportive, trusting, respectful and empathetic relationships.
The Peer Support role at Te Whare Mahana primarily facilitates a variety of different groups, events or workshops that are tāngata whaiora/people/service user led. These emerge out of clients’ own need, passion and interests, and focus on recovery and mental wellbeing. The Peer Support worker may also encourage people to access their sense of agency to engage with community services, health professionals, government agencies, case managers and other services for support.
If you feel you’d like support to access community services because you don’t know where to go or who to ask – the Peer Support worker could walk alongside you as you facilitate your own recovery. Or, if you have an idea for a group that you’d like to see in the community for your own and others like you to support wellbeing and recovery, please contact us.