Mental health and addiction services in Whanganui

Whanganui provides a range of mental health and addiction services in the community, rural areas and on our Whanganui Hospital campus.

Urgent mental health and addiction care

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Mental health and addiction services in Whanganui

We provide a range of mental health and addiction services in the community, rural areas and on our Whanganui Hospital campus, that includes an opioid treatment service.

Te Awhina is located at Whanganui Hospital and treats patients who are in the acute phase of their mental illness.

The service provides:

  • sensory modulation rooms
  • day activities
  • cultural and peer support.

Stanford House provides rehabilitation around:

  • health
  • mental health
  • community living
  • day-to-day skill development
  • employment
  • recreation and education.

Visits need to be arranged with the Nurse in Charge.

Phone: 06 348 1234

Maternal Infant Child Adolescent Mental Health and Addiction Services (MICAMHAS) is located in Whanganui Hospital and offers 3 services.

  • Maternal mental health for expectant mothers or mothers who have a baby under the age of 12 months, who are experiencing complex mental health issues related to the pregnancy or birth.
  • Mental health services for infants, young people aged 0 to 18 requiring therapy, treatment and assessment including urgent assessments.
  • Alcohol and other drug issues alongside mild to moderate mental health provided by SUPP for young people aged under 19 which operates in the community including schools.

SUPP youth support (internal link)

MICAMHAS accepts referrals from all including self-referrals.

MICAMHAS referral form [PDF, 216 KB]

Our Community Mental Health Service (CMH) works with adults who have severe mental health conditions.

CMH staff work alongside the patient and their whānau in their own home or at the CMH offices to educate them and support their recovery. This may include providing information on medication, illnesses, community living and options. CMH staff also liaise with any other services involved in a patient's recovery such as their main healthcare provider or a community agency.

CMH staff are based at:

  • Whanganui Hospital, Te Kopae building, Block G
  • Rangitikei Health Centre
  • Taihape Health Centre
  • Waimarino Health Centre.

Referrals are made through the triage nurse at:

  • Community Mental Health Service
  • Te Kopae building
  • Block G
  • Private Bag 3003
  • Whanganui 4540

Phone: 06 348 1207

Mental Health Assessment and Home Treatment Service is not an emergency service.

Phone: 0800 653 358

Our Alcohol and Other Drug Service works alongside community mental health teams based at Te Rito (Level 1 133 Wicksteed Street) and at Whanganui Hospital, alongside the Rangitikei, Taihape and Waimarino health centres.

The service works across the continuum of use (of substances) from social use to dependence. As well as educating and informing service users/tangata whaiora, the service provides interventions such as:

  • medical assessments
  • counselling
  • detoxification
  • opioid substitution.

Referral to other services is also provided. These can include funded residential programmes, self-help, support groups and community support.

Early intervention work with youth is also provided by specially trained staff.

Referrals are made through the triage nurse at:

  • Community Mental Health Service
  • Te Kopae building
  • Block G
  • Private Bag 3003
  • Whanganui 4540

Phone: 06 348 1207

Te Puke Karanga Hauora

Te Puke Karanga Hauora provides Whānau Ora services to Raetihi and the middle reaches of the awa. They have:

  • a mental health support worker who works with the Community Mental Health team based in this rural area
  • Whānau Ora
  • He Puna Ora kaimahi. 

Address:

  • Waimarino Health Centre
  • 22 Seddon Street
  • Raetihi

Phone: 06 385 5019

Te Kotuku Hauora

Te Kotuku Hauora are one of the many services provided by Te Runanga o Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa. They provide Tamariki Ora, He Puna Ora, and Whānau Ora   services. They have a mental health support worker as part of the team and a new kauapapa Maori mild to moderate service for people with mental health and addiction issues named Te Rau O Te Huia

Address:

  • 85 Henderson Line
  • Marton

Phone: 06 327 5594

Mokai Patea Services

Mokai Patea have Whānau Ora navigators that support whānau in change, crisis and work on health promotion and wellbeing. Mental health and addiction tangata whai ora and their whānau are supported by this team. Mokai Patea is mandated by 4 iwi:

  • Ngati Whitikaupeka
  • Ngati Tamakopiri
  • Ngai Te Ohuake
  • Ngāti Hauiti.

Address:

  • 130 Hautapu Street
  • Taihape

Phone: 06 388 1156

Ngā Waihua o Paerangi - Hauoratanga Team

Ngati Rangi has a range of services for its people based in Ohakune. One of these is the Hauoratanga team, part of the operational hub, Ngā Waihua o Paerangi.  They provide Whānau Ora, He Puna Ora and Tamariki Ora

They employ a mental health support worker and manaaki the alcohol and other drugs practitioner who works for Te Oranganui but has an office with Ngati Rangi.

Address:

  • Maungārongo Marae
  • 36A Burns Street
  • Ohakuna

Phone: 06 385 9580

Te Oranganui Waiora Hinengaro

Te Oranganui Waiora Hinengaro – Mental Health and Addiction Services provide:

  • Mental health – assessment and support work
  • Alcohol and other drug - assessment, counselling, support and group work and step up, step down residential care
  • Tamariki and rangatahi - assessment and clinical input
  • Day activity service Monday to Friday
  • Mental health residential service accessed through the Health NZ service coordinator
  • He Puna Ora – pregnancy and parenting programme for parents using drug and alcohol
  • Korowaitia Te Puna Waiora – a kauapapa Māori service for people with mild to moderate mental health and substance use problems.

The registered nurses in Waiora Hinengaro provide clinical oversight education and monitoring to the mental health support workers in the above for rural providers. This model which has been in place for 10 years and allows the above iwi providers to employ their own people in their own space and have the clinical back up.

Address:

  • 57 Campbell Street
  • Whanganui

Phone: 06 349 0007

The Mental Health and Addiction Services are supported by the Consumer consultant and Family advisor.

Te Whatu Ora Whanganui Consumer Consultant

The consumer consultant works with the management team and staff to ensure the service users’ perspective is part of mental health and addictions service planning, policy development and review, recruitment, and service-wide decision-making.

Name: Frank Bristol 

Address:

  • – c/o Balance
  • Community House
  • Ridgway Street
  • Whanganui

Phone: 06 345 4488

Te Whatu Ora Whanganui Family Advisor

The Family Advisor works with the management team and staff to ensure the family/whanau perspective is part of mental health and addiction services planning and changes, policy development and review, recruitment, and service wide decision making.

Name: Fiona Wakeling

Address:

  • – c/o Mental Health & Wellbeing Support
  • 210 Wicksteed Street
  • Whanganui

Phone: 06 345 3301

The Whanganui Community Living Trust is a community mental health and disability service provider.

They provide:

  • community social support
  • home-based support
  • enhanced mobile services – medication oversight 7 days a week by a registered clinician
  • maternal mental health support.

All supports are available throughout the Whanganui region.

Whanganui Community Living Trust (external link)