Primary Health Services
These are usually provided through your local primary health organisation (PHO) by a general practitioner (GP / family doctor) or nurse in a medical centre. Access to mental health and addiction services is often coordinated through primary health services.
Mental Health and Addiction Services
There are many types of mental health services. Virtually all of them are funded by the Government through your local District Health Board (DHB). They are either run by the Board itself or by non-government organisations. Most mental health services are provided outside hospitals, in the community.
Primary Mental Health and Addiction Services
An increasing number of mental health and addiction services are available through primary health organisations (PHOs). Some services are provided directly by general practitioners but in many cases, the general practitioner will coordinate access to other supports. These supports can include access to information, community counselling, some medications, internet based services, and other options.
Clinical services
If not through your general practitioner, your first contact may be with a clinical service where people will assess and treat your mental health and/or addiction problem - this is often with medication and/or with psychotherapy. The main clinical services are:
- Crisis services - sometimes called psychiatric emergency services, are a round the clock assessment service for people who are in a crisis. The crisis team will usually visit you and refer you to other clinical services for treatment.
- Community mental health and addiction services - where you visit psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists or other professionals as needed. Sometimes they may visit you in your own home.
- In-patient units - where you live with other people with mental health and/or addiction problems in a hospital setting for a short time during a crisis. Some centres also run longer term in-patient rehabilitation units.
- Support services
- Respite services - mental health workers will support you during a crisis, either in your own home, or in a non-hospital setting.
- Supported accommodation - this can be in a house with other people with mental health and/or addiction problems and who are supported by in-house or on-call staff. It can also be supports that enable you to stay in your own home or community housing.
- Support or rehabilitation services - support you to problem solve, to set goals, to learn skills, get and keep jobs, find housing and so on. The service may be provided in your own home or in a service or community setting.
- Services for different population groups
- Services for people of different ages - many areas have services for mothers and babies, children and young people and for older people, as well as the usual services for adults.
- Services for Māori - in many communities, kaupapa Māori services or specialised services for Māori are available. These services offer a whānau-based service run according to traditional Māori values in a hospital setting or the community.
- Services for Pacific peoples - some centres also have services run by and for Pacific peoples according to their cultural values.
- Specialist services for people with other problems
- Addiction services - alcohol and other drug services for people with addictions. Some areas run 'dual-diagnosis' services for people with a mental illness and addiction/s.
- Eating disorders services - these are provided in some major centres.
Forensic services
In-patient or community based services for people who have committed a crime and the court decides they need treatment, not punishment.
For more information on services:
Ministry of Health website for District Health Boards information