Attendees at one of several community wānanga held across Te Awakairangi, held to begin designing the new service.
Te Awakairangi Māori mental health and addiction project gives precedence to the health inequities that exist in the Hutt Valley for Māori whānau presenting with mental health difficulties, as part of the Mental Health and Addiction Change Programme.
Consulting with the local community is pivotal in developing our response to the needs of Māori, with specific input from key stakeholders and mana whenua. This kaupapa prioritises a change mindset and an approach to mental health for Māori that is community led.
We have an opportunity to advance Māori mental health research, policy and practice, and incorporate holistic care, matauranga Māori (knowledge), rongoā (Māori healing) and wairuatanga (spirituality) into service delivery. We will take a whānau ora approach to recovery that is led by specialist Māori kaimahi and Māori mental health clinicians using the foundation of kaupapa Māori models of health and recovery.
We also see an opportunity to improve equity and strengthen culturally responsive practice across all specialist mental health and addiction services.
