- Hon Matt Doocey
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey today officially opened Gisborne's new Crisis Recovery Café.
"From today, people will be able to go to the café and talk to people with their own experience of recovery. This is a safe place for people experiencing mental health and addiction challenges to go for support that will also better connect them with the community services they may need," Mr Doocey says.
"Wraparound support makes a real difference. Having someone who can connect people with longer-term support can help them feel less overwhelmed.
"The feedback from people has been clear. Sitting in a brightly lit, busy emergency department is not the best environment to be in when experiencing mental distress. That's why we are rolling out eight new Crisis Recovery Cafés across the country, offering an alternative, non-clinical space where people can go for support."
Te Kāuta café will be delivered by Te Kupenga Net Trust.
"The organisation was established in 1995 to deliver support to people in the Tairāwhiti region.
"I have always said communities know what works best for them. Te Kupenga is a trusted organisation in the region with strong existing community connections.
"There is no need for a referral to the café. People can simply show up when they need support.
"The café will initially operate Monday to Friday, from 7am to 3pm. This will be reviewed within the first three months, as to whether this needs adjusting.
"It has been heartening to hear the positive feedback about the peer support roles. One story that has stayed with me was from a worker reflecting on her own experience. She told me peer support services are exactly what she wishes she had when she was struggling, someone who could say, 'I see you, I hear you, I know what you're going through.'
"That's exactly why we are making better use of peer support workers in a range of settings, including emergency departments, eating disorder services, maternal mental health services and inpatient settings."
