We are focused on delivering a more equitable, inclusive and people-focused mental health and addiction system that supports people to be well in the community.
Our implementation programme focuses on the themes and main findings of Time for Change - Te Hurihanga, and has identified a series of core projects. Find more out about the projects and their progress below.
Project Timeline
Project progress
Establishing contemporary options to support tāngata whaiora with high and complex needs
Built in 1953, the infrastructure of some of the inpatient facilities at Wakari Hospital no longer supports the delivery of contemporary inpatient mental health practice. As a priority, the Time for Change - Te Hurihanga review recommended the Southern DHB signal the eventual closure of Ward 11, a 16-bed clinical rehabilitation unit.
Te Whatu Ora Southern announced Comcare Trust as the new provider on 1 December 2022 to develop and provide community intensive support services, including housing to enable people to move out of hospital. The new service will provide services that are flexible and tailored to the needs of individuals.
It will take time to set up the service with the first whaiora/patients transitioning into the new service expected in April 2023, ant the transition of all whaiora/patients anticipated to take around 18 months to complete.
Increasing Dunedin mental health crisis respite care capacity
Dunedin’s capacity for emergency mental health respite was increased in September 2022, with the opening of a five-bed home opening in a residential environment less than 10 minutes from Dunedin Hospital. The home was set up through a contract with community service provider Pact, which specialises in helping people recovering from mental illness through supported 24/7 accommodation, respite care and community support. Read the media release
Developing a plan to increase crisis support options for Queenstown, Central Lakes and Waitaki regions
- Queenstown, Central Lakes region
A new mental health crisis support service for Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago residents will soon be fully operational. The new service sits alongside the 24/7 regional crisis response service, providing more local options to support people in mental distress including those who may otherwise have needed to be admitted to acute inpatient mental health services.
Waitaki region
A series of workshops have been held in Waitaki, and a draft model of care for crisis support services is being developed. The next step is to find a provider for these services.
Developing a 'by Māori for Māori' investment plan
The Time for Change – Te Hurihanga programme has committed $1m of its $7m funding to ‘by Māori for Māori’ investment.
An Investment Framework has been being prepared for increased investment in Hauora Māori (Māori wellness) to design and commission local responses for Māori including more Kaupapa Māori throughout the organisation. (The lack of Kaupapa Māori mental health services was identified in the review as being extremely concerning.)
Under the plan, inequities will be identified and the delivery and outcomes for Māori will be monitored to ensure accountability to whānau, hapū and iwi.
Expanding alcohol and other drug services (AOD)
Community based alcohol and drugs services in Otago are expanding with the announcement in November 2022 of Te Kāika in Dunedin who will be running the new service. The service is expected to be fully operational by May 2023. It will include wānaga, whānau ora approaches, therapeutic interventions and peer support all delivered within a Māori framework. It will be available to all adults with moderate to severe and/or complex addiction issues, with a specific focus on connecting with Māori. Read more here.
Developing peer-led mental health and addiction services across several sites
A model of care for peer led services has been co-designed through workshops that have taken place across the district for the community, and for people with lived experience. A process to secure a provider(s) of peer led services is in progress.
Developing the plan to grow and support the peer workforce
A co-design process has been used to develop a Consumer, Peer Support and Lived Experience (CPSLE) Workforce Development Action Plan.
The process to secure a provider for the provision of education/training services to develop the Southern CPSLE workforce will begin shortly.
Enhanced child and youth services for Otakou, Waitaki and Central Lakes
One of the findings of the Time for Change - Te Hurihanga review was that existing infant, child and youth mental health and addiction services are not able to respond to the increase in demand for services in their district.
Co-design workshops for enhanced child and youth services took place in February and early March in Otakou, Waitaki and Central Lakes to look at ways to improve service delivery for young people and mental health services.
From the workshop feedback we are looking at what additional changes and initiatives the community would like to see for our young people and mental health services.
Day Programmes
One of the findings of the Time for Change - Te Hurihanga review was that some Day Programmes in the Southern district could be reviewed to make sure they are providing a service that tangata whaiora (a person seeking health) wants and needs.
Day Programmes refers to Day Activity and Living Skills that are provided in a community-based setting.
Service users, the community and Providers of Day Programmes have been asked to get involved in discussions about Day Programmes and what a good Day Programme should look like. This has being done through surveys, feedback by email and phone, and through group listening sessions held in February and March. We want to make sure our service users have the best possible experience through a wide range of options.
Once all the feedback is available it will be used to draft a model of care for Day Programmes. A 'model of care' is a way of describing what type of services we need, and how they should work.
More information can be found in the FAQs here
Read the discussion document here
