Community feedback sought on Southern mental health and addiction day programmes
Health New Zealand is seeking feedback on its mental health and addiction day programmes in Otago-Southland.
The programmes provide non-clinical, community-based services for people requiring mental health and addiction support.
A review of the Southern district’s mental health and addiction services (Time for Change – Te Hurihanga) was completed in 2021. The review identified an opportunity to refresh day programme services in the district and include a wider range of planning and crisis support options.
A new model of care for non-clinical day services was subsequently released in 2023, following extensive consultation with the community, local providers, users of the service, and people with lived experience of mental illness and addiction.
Health New Zealand’s Southern Director of Allied Health, Mental Health, Addictions, and Intellectual Disability, Adell Cox, says the model is built on a strengths-based approach, in which tāngata whaiora (a person seeking health) are supported to find and build on their personal strengths to help them on their recovery journey.
“It emphasises hope, choice, mana enhancement, holistic wellbeing, dignity, participation, and connection.”
The model encourages collaboration among local providers to ensure the full range of services are available for tāngata whaiora.
Health New Zealand has commissioned Hauora Consulting to assess how well day programmes are aligning with the new model of care.
As part of this assessment, eight community feedback sessions will be held across the district over the coming weeks. They will be guided by a facilitator with lived experience of mental health and addiction.
Hauora Consulting founder Emma Hunter says: “By sharing your experiences, you can help ensure that day programmes reflect the real needs and aspirations of tāngata whaiora in our community.
“We invite you to share your experiences and insights to help shape the future of day programmes in the Southern district.”