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Canterbury > Mental Health & Addictions >

Mental Health Advocacy and Peer Support (MHAPS)

Mental Health Service, Addiction

Today

Description

MHAPS is a Charitable Trust offering both Mental Health and Addictions Peer Advocacy and Peer Support Services in Christchurch to people experiencing mental distress and/or addiction. People from all walks of life meet with us for support, advocacy, and mutual learning, in groups or one-to-one. You can find connection here through the kinship of shared experience with our peer workers, all of whom have lived experience of distress and/or addiction and of recovery.

Staff

MHAPS is a peer-led and peer-delivered mental health and addictions service, meaning that all of our peer workers have their own lived experience of mental distress and/or addictions, and have a  meaningful recovery. Our own experience helps us to listen carefully to you, as we have been there too.

Ages

Adult / Pakeke, Older adult / Kaumātua

How do I access this service?

Walk in

You’re very welcome to drop in. Come in for a ‘First step’ conversation with a peer worker where you can find out about peer support (individual and group support) and our advocacy service. No appointment is needed between 10am and 3:30pm weekdays (except Tuesday mornings). If you prefer we can arrange a first step meeting online or over the phone.

Contact us

If you have any questions please contact us via phone (03 365 9479), email (reception@mhaps.org.nz), text (022 370 8055), or Facebook message.

Referral

No referral is needed.

Fees and Charges Categorisation

Free

Fees and Charges Description

Our services are FREE , however donations are appreciated!

Hours

Mon – Fri 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Languages Spoken

English

Programmes

Advocacy

MHAPS is a peer-led and peer-delivered mental health and addictions service which means that all of our staff have their own lived experience of mental distress and/or addictions, and have a meaningful recovery. Our own experience helps us to listen carefully to you, as we have been there too. Our peer advocates can work with you to have your voice heard in systems (e.g. ACC, accommodation referrals and issues, Oranga Tamariki, counselling referrals, employment issues, lawyer referrals, medical professionals, social services, tribunals, Work & Income, etc). We can support you to be better heard at appointments, inform you of your rights, and help if you want to make a complaint - along with other tasks that support you being able to move towards what you want.

Programme Areas

Mental health, Addictions - drug & alcohol

Programme Type

Peer / advocacy / group / family whānau support, Advocacy / group / family whānau support (AOD)

Regions

Canterbury

Age Groups

Adult / Pakeke

Referral Types

Self referral, GP, DHB clinical services

Referral Process

Please phone, text, email, or Facebook message us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Description

MHAPS is a peer-led and peer-delivered mental health and addictions service which means that all of our staff have their own lived experience of mental distress and/or addictions, and have a meaningful recovery. Our own experience helps us to listen carefully to you, as we have been there too.

Our peer advocates can work with you to have your voice heard in systems (e.g. ACC, accommodation referrals and issues, Oranga Tamariki, counselling referrals, employment issues, lawyer referrals, medical professionals, social services, tribunals, Work & Income, etc). 

We can support you to be better heard at appointments, inform you of your rights, and help if you want to make a complaint - along with other tasks that support you being able to move towards what you want. 

Peer Support

MHAPS is a peer-led and peer-delivered mental health and addictions service, meaning that all of our peer workers have their own lived experience of mental distress and/or addictions, and have meaningful recovery. Our own experience helps us to listen carefully to you, as we have been there too. We use the Intentional Peer Support (IPS) model. IPS is a trauma-informed framework for creating safe yet transformative connections. Unlike traditional mental health service relationships, the relationships we create through IPS are founded on a willingness of both people to learn and grow. Thus, nobody is the helper and the point is not to try to ‘fix’ you. We are much more interested in growing a relationship that allows each of us to understand how we came to see things the way we do, and how we might work with our particular circumstances to find new possibilities, including greater ease, confidence and fulfilment. We offer IPS to both individuals and groups. In each case, we work through four tasks: building connection; exploring our own and each other’s worldview; practising mutuality (two-way relationships); moving towards what we want in our lives. At all times, we are guided by three overarching principles: moving from helping to co-learning; focusing on our relationship as peers rather than you as an individual; responding from a personal sense of hope and possibility rather than our socially-conditioned fear.

Programme Areas

Mental health

Programme Type

Peer / advocacy / group / family whānau support

Regions

Canterbury

Age Groups

Adult / Pakeke

Referral Types

Self referral, GP, DHB clinical services

Referral Process

Please phone, text, email, or Facebook message us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Description

MHAPS is a peer-led and peer-delivered mental health and addictions service, meaning that all of our peer workers have their own lived experience of mental distress and/or addictions, and have meaningful recovery. Our own experience helps us to listen carefully to you, as we have been there too.

We use the Intentional Peer Support (IPS) model. IPS is a trauma-informed framework for creating safe yet transformative connections. 

Unlike traditional mental health service relationships, the relationships we create through IPS are founded on a willingness of both people to learn and grow. Thus, nobody is the helper and the point is not to try to ‘fix’ you.

We are much more interested in growing a relationship that allows each of us to understand how we came to see things the way we do, and how we might work with our particular circumstances to find new possibilities, including greater ease, confidence and fulfilment.

We offer IPS to both individuals and groups. In each case, we work through four tasks: 

  1. building connection;
  2. exploring our own and each other’s worldview;
  3. practising mutuality (two-way relationships);
  4. moving towards what we want in our lives.

At all times, we are guided by three overarching principles:

  • moving from helping to co-learning;
  • focusing on our relationship as peers rather than you as an individual;
  • responding from a personal sense of hope and possibility rather than our socially-conditioned fear.
Addictions Advocacy and Peer Support

An addictions advocate can serve as a ‘navigator’ through the Alcohol and Other Drugs treatment services. We can support you to have your voice heard at appointments, inform you of your rights, and help if you want to make a complaint and many other tasks that negatively impact on recovery. All our advocates have had personal experience with alcohol and addictions and can assist you in a great many situations where you may be struggling to speak for yourself. As people who have used alcohol and drug services, we will listen and treat you with respect. Our service is free and confidential and we will only ever act on your issues with your permission.

Programme Areas

Addictions - drug & alcohol

Programme Type

Peer support (AOD), Advocacy / group / family whānau support (AOD)

Regions

Canterbury

Age Groups

Adult / Pakeke

Referral Types

Self referral, GP, DHB clinical services

Referral Process

Please phone, text, email, or Facebook message us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Description

An addictions advocate can serve as a ‘navigator’ through the Alcohol and Other Drugs treatment services. We can support you to have your voice heard at appointments, inform you of your rights, and help if you want to make a complaint and many other tasks that negatively impact on recovery.

All our advocates have had personal experience with alcohol and addictions and can assist you in a great many situations where you may be struggling to speak for yourself. As people who have used alcohol and drug services, we will listen and treat you with respect.

Our service is free and confidential and we will only ever act on your issues with your permission.

Recovery Works

MHAPS provides a varied range of programmes and workshops designed to improve people’s understanding of mental health and addictions. As a person becomes more aware of their own reactions to stress and trauma these programmes assist them to develop effective recovery and wellbeing strategies.

Programme Areas

Mental health, Addictions - drug & alcohol

Programme Type

Peer support (AOD), Community / social support (AOD), Peer / advocacy / group / family whānau support, Community based support - mental health

Regions

Canterbury

Age Groups

Adult / Pakeke

Referral Types

Self referral

Referral Process

Please phone, text, email, or Facebook message us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Description

MHAPS provides a varied range of programmes and workshops designed to improve people’s understanding of mental health and addictions. As a person becomes more aware of their own reactions to stress and trauma these programmes assist them to develop effective recovery and wellbeing strategies.

Latnam

Latnam is an activity and social centre for people who experience mental illness and/or addiction issues and who feel socially isolated. We have a friendly team of peer support workers who help members and guests to feel at home. We offer a safe and comfortable place for people to meet and socialise in an alcohol and drug-free environment, where people can feel: included and not marginalised, befriended and not isolated. Latnam provides a variety of activities including pool, computers, DVDs, and hot drinks. For information on the service and for further details, please contact MHAPS reception on phone (03) 365 9479 or visit the MHAPS website www.mhaps.org.nz Latnam is located at Unit 3/357 Madras Street, CHRISTCHURCH (entrance at the front -by the flag)

Programme Areas

Mental health, Addictions - drug & alcohol

Programme Type

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

Regions

Canterbury

Age Groups

Adult / Pakeke

Referral Types

Self referral

Referral Process

Please phone, text, email, or Facebook message us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Description

Latnam is an activity and social centre for people who experience mental illness and/or addiction issues and who feel socially isolated. We have a friendly team of peer support workers who help members and guests to feel at home.

We offer a safe and comfortable place for people to meet and socialise in an alcohol and drug-free environment, where people can feel:

  • included and not marginalised,
  • befriended and not isolated.

Latnam provides a variety of activities including pool, computers, DVDs, and hot drinks.

For information on the service and for further details, please contact MHAPS reception on phone (03) 365 9479 or visit the MHAPS website www.mhaps.org.nz 

Latnam is located at Unit 3/357 Madras Street, CHRISTCHURCH (entrance at the front -by the flag)

Disability Assistance

Wheelchair access, Mobility parking space, Wheelchair accessible toilet, A longer appointment time, Support to make decisions

Additional Details

Face to face / Kanohi ki te Kanohi

Travel Directions

Entrances are off Salisbury Street and Madras Street.

Public Transport

Bus lines that come nearby include 28, 44, 60, Orange Line, or Blue Line.

Parking

We have labelled MHAPS carparks for visitors at the rear of the building and under cover in the drivethrough area between the units. There are also P60 parks on-site near the Salisbury St entrance, and there is often free parking nearby on Madras or Salisbury Streets.

Contact Details

  • Text

    022 370 8055

Unit 4
357 Madras Street
Christchurch Central
Christchurch 8013

Information about this location

View on Google Maps

Get directions

Street Address

Unit 4
357 Madras Street
Christchurch Central
Christchurch 8013

Postal Address

PO Box 21020
Christchurch 8140

This page was last updated at 9:40AM on April 15, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by Mental Health Advocacy and Peer Support (MHAPS).