A newly appointed mental health wellbeing navigator will support mental health initiatives for Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes communities over the next year. 

Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group has appointed Ella Hitchcock to the role.

She will work closely with agencies and networks to help coordinate an overall picture of needs and mental health service capacity, facilitate connections, and work collaboratively on wellbeing initiatives, Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group chair Adell Cox said.

In addition she will connect people with the support available here.

“Ella brings a fresh perspective and real insights into the difficulties our young people are facing,” Adell said. 

“This will be particularly helpful as we focus on rolling out initiatives like the Youth Mental Health First Aid Programme.”

Adell said the impacts of Covid-19 have amplified some of the pre-existing challenges the region faced, as well as bringing new ones, which is why Te Hau Toka has extended its support of the navigator role.

 “There’s been a lot of great mahi so far but there’s still a lot to do to help our communities recover,” she said.

“Our primary goal is to keep people well before they get to the stage of needing acute clinical care so promotion, prevention and early intervention are key.

“We need to keep the spotlight on why it’s so important for people to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing and encourage them to seek help early so that they receive the right supports to get them back on track.”

Having someone who can navigate the system and act as a connector has proven to be really helpful, she said.

 Ella, who has a double degree in law and health science, said she was passionate about working alongside communities to improve their health and wellbeing.

“I also want to find opportunities to create meaningful, equitable and sustainable change in this space, from grassroots prevention to national policy.”

The Mental Wellbeing Navigator role will be funded by the Te Hau Toka group and work out of the Central Lakes Family Services offices across the region.