Otago Mental Health Support Trust

Peer Support

Programme Areas

Mental health, Addictions - drug & alcohol

Programme Type

Peer support (AOD), Coexisting problems – mental health & addictions, Peer / advocacy / group / family whānau support, Community based support - mental health

Regions

Waitaki, Dunedin - South Otago

Age Groups

Adult / Pakeke

Referral Types

Self referral, GP, DHB clinical services, Corrections

Referral Process

Our service is free, confidential, independent and needs no referral. However, referrals can be made from any organisation, with the individual's consent.

To find out more call us on 0800 364 462.

Description

Our peer support is based on the Intentional Peer Support (IPS) model and is mostly one on one peer support. We also run a women’s group every Wednesday, and a monthly Coffee and Connection group. Peer support relationships are mutual and reciprocal relationships, where staff walk alongside people during their journey and experience with mental distress. It is based on three principles:

• Hope vs Fear
• Learning vs Helping
• Relationship vs Individual

These are embodied in 4 tasks:

Connection: This is about when someone else “gets it”. The sharing of experiences to learn and explore possible options.

Worldview: Helping each other to understand how we’ve come to know what we know. Instead of asking ‘what’s wrong,’ we ask ‘what happened?’

Mutuality: Redefining help as a co-learning and growing process.

Moving Towards: what we want, vision and action.