Te Whatu Ora 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 in 2021 identified an opportunity to refresh day programme services in the district and include a wider range of planning and crisis support options. 

Following extensive consultation with the community, local providers, users of the service, and people with lived experience of mental illness and addiction, a  new model of care for non-clinical day services was released in 2023, 

Health NZ Southern director of allied health, mental health, addictions, and intellectual disability Adell Cox said the model was built on a strengths-based approach, where tāngata whaiora (a person seeking health) were 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,’’ Adele said.

The model encouraged collaboration among local providers to ensure the full range of services are available for tāngata whaiora.

Hauora Consulting has been commissioned 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 Southern district over the coming weeks, including in Alexandra on Monday.

Sessions will be guided by a facilitator with lived experience of mental health and addiction.

Hauora Consulting founder Emma Hunter said by sharing their experiences, people could help ensure day programmes reflected the “real needs and aspirations of tāngata whaiora in our community’’.

The Alexandra session will take place on Monday, from 10.30am-12pm, at Able Minds/Artsenta Outreach, 28 Ashworth St, Alexandra

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