Mental Health

What is Mental Health?

“Mental Health is a state of wellbeing in which the individual realises his or her own abilities to cope with the normal stresses of life, and can work productively and fruitfully.” (Mental Health Foundation)


Many things happen to us in life that make it difficult to cope with stress. Too many stresses without the skills, networks or resources to resolve problems can cause mild to moderate mental health problems.


Very often we have our own solutions that work like talking to someone we trust in our family, school, church or work. However sometimes some external help can support us to help find new solutions.

 

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Programmes

Primary Solutions - Nga Pu hera Atawhai

 

This is a service which provides up to 6 sessions of therapy at no financial charge from a Primary Solutions contracted provider.

 

The service is for:

People with a mild to moderate mental health issue, AND you meet on of the following criteria:

  • All young people aged 10 to 24 years

  • All people with a Community Services Card

  • All Maori

  • All Pacific Island people


How can I be referred to the service?

  • By your Doctor/GP

  • Self-referral (see below for the Coorinator in your areas)

  • Community support agencies 


The service:

  • Is free of charge

  • Is confidential and privacy is maintained

  • Acknowledges and respects different cultural and spiritual values. 


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Information about Primary Mental Health services to improve wellbeing

 

The Primary Mental Health Coordinators can help you to identify things impacting on your mental health wellbeing and identify the support available in your local area. The Coordinators help you access health and social services to support your wellbeing.


This could include:

  • Information about support services available in your community and how to access these services

  • Working with you to plan a flexible package of care to meet your individual needs

  • Brief, short term therapy to help you manage issues that are affecting you

  • Providing a referral for you to Primary Solutions


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Primary Mental Health Community Coordination Service

 

The Primary Mental Health Community Coordinator can help you with information and support in the following areas:

  • Benefits: Making sure you recieve the benefits you are entitled to

  • Employment: Assistance with finding training and work

  • Finance: Helping you access budgeting and financial advice

  • Health: Access to health services

  • Housing: Linking you with assistance for any housing issues

  • Recreation: Finding activities for your spare time

  • Social: Support to meet people

The coordinator does this by:

  • Networking with community groups and social service agencies

  • Being available to work with you personally

  • Supporting you to build networks

  • Helping you recognise your own strengths and abilities

  • Working together with you on goals you want to achieve

  • Assisting you to access other agencies


Who can ask for support and information?

Anyone with social needs impacting on their mental wellbeing:

  • GPs, friends, family, health professionals

  • Social and community agencies

  • And who lives in the area from Tawa to Waikanae


The service is:

  • Free of charge

  • Confidential

  • Acknowledges and respects different cultural and spiritual values

  • Recognises the differing needs for varying age groups


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Primary Mental Health Team

Primary Mental Health Coordinators

Kapiti

Martin Sloman

(04) 298 8565 or 027 466 0208

 

Porirua

Cherene Neilson-Hornblow

(04) 239 6114 or 027 290 5527

 

Wellington

Amy Munsterman

(04) 978 4360 or 027 479 3370

 

Colleen Flux-Hollings

(04) 978 4305 or 021 725 072

 

Community Co-ordinator

Porirua and Kapiti


Michelle Ropata

(04) 239 6117 or 027 279 5960

Fax (04) 237 4593


Clinical Leader

Peter Coombes

027 227 2661

 

Non-Clinical Coordinator

Heather Sander

(04) 978 4363


Compass Health fax number

(04) 801 8715

 

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Mental Health Resources

Primary Mental Health Counselling Resources

 

Provides information about services and providers of counselling in the Wellington City area:

 

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Related Links

  

The Glasgow Steps website will tell you all about common stress problems and give you some ideas on how best to tackle them.

The Low Down website and support team is there to help young people to ‘get to a better place', and has information on places to go for help when they are feeling down.

Skylight is here to support you and those you care about, through the tough times, whatever the situation.

The Primary Mental Health website provides useful resources about primary mental health and addiction for the workforce, academics and consumers.

The Mental Health Foundation website provides information and resoucres to support your mental wellbeing.

The Depression website can help you understand more about depression and help you find a way through.

Wellink is a charitable trust that works for, and alongside, people in the Wellington region who experience severe mental illness.

MoodGym allows you to Learn cognitive behaviour therapy skills for preventing and coping with depression.

Are You OK website has information about family violence, what it is and where to get help.

Atareira (formerly the schizophrenia fellowship) provides sevices for the wider Wellington region including Porirua and the Kapiti Coast, for people who experience mental illness, and their family and whanau.

WellNet Newsletters Wellington Mental Health Promotion Network provides leadership for the network, organises quarterly forums for members with speakers on health promotion activities and the opportunity to meet and share information, and produces a twice yearly newsletter.

Related Documents

  

Coping with Financial Stress gives readers tips and information on coping through difficult financial times.

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