Community Mental Health Teams on the move

Northland DHB's Community Mental Health Service teams are on the move.  A number of mental health teams have relocated off-site as Whangarei Hospital prepares to build its new 25 bed mental health unit. 

These teams previously located at Norton House and Whakaritenga Villa, provide Intervention and support for adults 18 to 65 years who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health and/or addiction problems.

Northland DHB's director strategic projects Brett Halvorson says to build the new $25 million mental health unit, we need to prepare the hospital site, making room for the new building.  So as part of our planning we are decanting some services at Whangarei Hospital.

"Our focus is not solely on bricks and mortar of the new mental health unit, which will be light, airy and spacious, we are looking to improve the clinical environment, enabling our teams to improve clinical outcomes."

Mental Health & Addiction Services project manager overseeing the move, Dell Coyte, says "we are in the process of updating our staff, local doctors and clients about the move because from 5 July 2010, our service buildings in the Norton House area will be closed.

Some of the teams moved to 25 Rathbone Street in February and the remaining services move to 5 Three Mile Bush Road in Kamo on 1^st July. The Alcohol and Drug team will also move from Norfolk Villa to Kamo on 5^th July.  Each site has ample parking and is easily accessible by bus.  Clients can also call us direct on (09) 430 4101 or after hours on 0800 223371."

"Many of us are sad to leave Norton House and Whakaritenga Villa because we have been working within these buildings for some time.  It's a start of a new journey for us," said Ms Coyte.


BACKGROUND - NEW SITE LOCATIONS AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS

• General adult mental health and addiction service (South team); Te Roopu Whitiora, the Maori mental health team; & the Early Intervention Team, have relocated to Michael Hill Building, 1st Floor, 25 Rathbone Street, Whangarei.
  
  Contact telephone: (09) 430 4101 extn 3501
• General adult mental health and addiction service (North team); the Intensive Community Treatment team; Consumer/Whanau/Cultural Advisors, and the Alcohol and Drug Service, are relocating to 5 Three Mile Bush Road, Kamo, Whangarei.
  
  Contact telephone (09) 430 4101 extn 3502

BACKGROUND - SERVICE AND ACCESS CRITERIA

Consumer / Whanau / Cultural Advisors

Northland DHB's Mental Health & Addiction Services employs consumer advisors, a cultural consumer advisor and one family advisor:

The work includes:
involvement in management meetings and planning and development of services including policy development

• providing feedback to the services
• providing education
• participation on employment panels
• assisting in staff training
• assisting consumers in making a complaint
• networking with consumers in Northland and other parts of the country.

Intensive Community Treatment Team

This service provides assertive community outreach to clients identified as at high risk, primarily due to reluctance to engage in mental health treatment. This service operates in the Whangarei, Mid North and Far North districts.

Community Mental Health and Addiction Teams

These operate in each district and provide community/outpatient based assessment and treatment services for eligible people between 18 years and 65 years of age who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health problems.

Te Roopu Whitiora (TRW) Community Maori Mental Health Service

The purpose of Whitiora is to provide a bicultural mental health perspective for tangata whai ora and their whanau who seek a combination of clinical and cultural assessment/ interventions for their Mental Health issues and may include access to traditional Maori healing.

Whitiora utilises Maori models of health and practice, aims to bring together the tangata whai ora and their whanau, in community settings e.g. home, marae and outpatient settings.

Eligible service users include tangata whai ora who are between 18 and 65 years of age and their whanau, who meet the eligibility criteria of the General Adult Service and:

• wish to participate in cultural based treatment which fosters whanaungatanga
• use Maori language to express themselves
• feel more comfortable within an environment that promotes Tikanga Maori.

TRW services are integrated into the district Mental Health and Addiction Services in Kaikohe, Kaitaia and Dargaville.

For further information, please contact:
Fleur King, Public Relations Manager
Northland District Health Board 
Phone (09) 430 4101 ext 3315