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Awhi Mātua | Auckland | Te Toka Tumai

Public Service, Psychiatry, Mental Health

Today

8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Description

Awhi Mātua provides support to help older adults experiencing serious mental health problems reach their best possible function and wellness. 

Our aim is to enable individuals to continue to live as independently and meaningfully as possible in the environment of their and their family’s choosing.

We generally work with people aged 65 years and over. We work with people who have long-standing or late-onset mental health problems and/or people with dementia complicated by serious behavioural and/or psychological symptoms.

Referrers - please see detailed service entry criteria included in the GP section.

Who Do We See?
We provide mental health services and support to people mostly aged 65 years and over. We see people with a range of mental health concerns as well as those with medical conditions that affect their emotional wellbeing.

Where Will We See You?
We provide support to older people and their whānau in a range of locations. Our community team see people at our offices in Greenlane Clinical Centre, or may offer to visit people where they live, be it their own home, family home or residential care facility.  

Staff

Who Are We?

Our team consists of staff from a wide variety of backgrounds who are skilled in supporting older adults, their whānau and communities.

Our team includes:

  • Nurses
  • Psychiatrists
  • Clinical Psychologists
  • Social Workers
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Community Support Workers

Who are supported by our administration and management team.

Our team also provides training experience for students from a range of health professions e.g. student nurses. Students are supervised by a health professional and you will always be asked if you agree to have a student involved in your care.

Ages

Older adult / Kaumātua

How do I access this service?

Contact us, Referral, Walk in

Referral Expectations

Who Can Refer

Referrals can be made by your GP, geriatrician or other health service provider.

An individual or whānau member can self refer.

Your GP will usually rule out any alternative physical health causes for your symptoms, such as physical illness or infection.

Our team will usually discuss the referral with your GP if they haven't been involved.

Referral Process

  • General Practitioners: Please complete and submit the eReferral form which can be found on Medtech, MyPractice and Profile for Mac
  • Other referrers: Please complete the referral form and email to Awhi.Matua@adhb.govt.nz
  • Contact the triage clinician on (09) 623 6474 if the referral is urgent or you would like to discuss it further.

What Happens Next

  • Our triage team reviews referrals
  • We may contact you and your family/whānau to find out more about your situation and how we can help
  • We may contact the referrer and with consent other services involved in your care
  • If your referral is accepted we will contact you with details of your assessment date and the name of the clinicians that will be involved in your assessment
  • Following the assessment we will communicate with you and the referrer to form a plan about treatment options. This may include advice to your GP, or some ongoing monitoring or talk therapy from members of our team
  • If your referral is not accepted, we may suggest alternative services or community supports that may be able to help.

Fees and Charges Categorisation

Free

Fees and Charges Description

Our service is free of charge to people who are entitled to free health care in New Zealand.

Hours

8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Mon – Fri 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

If you require urgent help assistance outside these hours, please contact our after-hours Urgent Response Service 0800 800 717.

Procedures / Treatments

What is Mental Illness?

Mental illness is a clinically significant behaviour or psychological disorder that is associated with distress or disability. A mental illness can continuously or intermittently affect our capacity for speech, language, mood, affect, thoughts, perceptions, insight, judgement, cognition (understanding) and volition (ability to make choices). It can limit our ability to function as society would normally expect of us and can put us and others at risk.

Mental illness is a clinically significant behaviour or psychological disorder that is associated with distress or disability.  
A mental illness can continuously or intermittently affect our capacity for speech, language, mood, affect, thoughts, perceptions, insight, judgement, cognition (understanding) and volition (ability to make choices). It can limit our ability to function as society would normally expect of us and can put us and others at risk.
Anxiety Disorders

We all feel some anxiety at some time or other. Anxiety may serve as an alerting signal, warning us of external/internal threats and consequently acting as a prompt to take appropriate action. When anxiety is very severe and present even when there is no threat of any kind, then it interferes with our functioning and can become an illness. In this circumstance, anxiety becomes a disorder characterised by an unpleasant emotion with feelings of fear, threat and impending danger and can be associated with numerous bodily symptoms like breathlessness, trembling, tightness in throat, dry mouth, racing heart and nausea/vomiting. There are varieties of anxiety disorders like panic attacks, phobias (unhealthy fear of something), social anxiety, post-traumatic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. Anxiety can often be associated with a depressive episode. Anxiety disorders are very common and if unrecognised and untreated, can cause severe disability. Treatment Self help: learning techniques like relaxation, distraction and education Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Medication

We all feel some anxiety at some time or other. Anxiety may serve as an alerting signal, warning us of external/internal threats and consequently acting as a prompt to take appropriate action.
 
When anxiety is very severe and present even when there is no threat of any kind, then it interferes with our functioning and can become an illness. In this circumstance, anxiety becomes a disorder characterised by an unpleasant emotion with feelings of fear, threat and impending danger and can be associated with numerous bodily symptoms like breathlessness, trembling, tightness in throat, dry mouth, racing heart and nausea/vomiting.
 
There are varieties of anxiety disorders like panic attacks, phobias (unhealthy fear of something), social anxiety, post-traumatic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. Anxiety can often be associated with a depressive episode.
 
Anxiety disorders are very common and if unrecognised and untreated, can cause severe disability.
 
Treatment
  • Self help: learning techniques like relaxation, distraction and education
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Medication
Depression

Depression is a mood disorder. Emotional states like sadness, ‘feeling blue’ or tearfulness are part of normal human experience. Clinical depression is called Major Depression and is characterised by the presence for at least two weeks of symptoms such as depressed mood, diminished interest and pleasure in most activities, change in appetite and weight (these can be increased or decreased), sleep disturbance, fatigue, bodily symptoms (headache, backache etc), poor concentration, feelings of anxiousness, worthlessness, hopelessness, guilt, and possibly suicidal ideation. Depression is a common disorder and about 10-20% of the population in New Zealand will suffer from depression during their lifetime. Treatment Once depression has been diagnosed by your GP/Psychiatrist, it can be effectively treated by: antidepressant medication psychological interventions e.g. counselling (various types) and psychotherapy (various types of talking therapy) exercise

Depression is a mood disorder. Emotional states like sadness, ‘feeling blue’ or tearfulness are part of normal human experience. Clinical depression is called Major Depression and is characterised by the presence for at least two weeks of symptoms such as depressed mood, diminished interest and pleasure in most activities, change in appetite and weight (these can be increased or decreased), sleep disturbance, fatigue, bodily symptoms (headache, backache etc), poor concentration, feelings of anxiousness, worthlessness, hopelessness, guilt, and possibly suicidal ideation.
 
Depression is a common disorder and about 10-20% of the population in New Zealand will suffer from depression during their lifetime. 
 
Treatment
Once depression has been diagnosed by your GP/Psychiatrist, it can be effectively treated by:
  • antidepressant medication
  • psychological interventions e.g. counselling (various types) and psychotherapy (various types of talking therapy)
  • exercise
Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects about 1% of the general population. It is a complex illness characterised by ‘psychosis’, a word used to describe disorder of thoughts (e.g. delusions - false beliefs held in spite of evidence that they are not real), perceptions (e.g. hallucinations - seeing, hearing or feeling things which are not there), disorganised speech and grossly disorganised behaviour, which are not experienced by others and which are not seen as abnormal by the sufferer. These four symptoms are often referred to as the ‘Positive Symptoms’ of schizophrenia because they are the result of the disease process. The fifth group of symptoms: withdrawal, decreased ability to feel pleasure, lack of energy, and flat affect, are referred to as ‘Negative Symptoms’ because they represent a loss of normal functions. Schizophrenia affects different people in different ways. Some people may experience only a few short episodes and then fully recover. For others it lasts throughout their lives and needs to be treated like any other physical illness such as asthma or diabetes. It is important that schizophrenia is treated as soon as it is diagnosed by a psychiatrist to prevent long-term disability and loss of function. Treatment Schizophrenia may be treated using a number of different approaches: Use of antipsychotic medication Psychosocial education programs e.g. education, support, counselling and assistance to return to job/studies/performing daily tasks Ongoing support e.g. housing, monitoring of treatment, support groups.

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects about 1% of the general population. It is a complex illness characterised by ‘psychosis’, a word used to describe disorder of thoughts (e.g. delusions - false beliefs held in spite of evidence that they are not real), perceptions (e.g. hallucinations - seeing, hearing or feeling things which are not there), disorganised speech and grossly disorganised behaviour, which are not experienced by others and which are not seen as abnormal by the sufferer. These four symptoms are often referred to as the ‘Positive Symptoms’ of schizophrenia because they are the result of the disease process.
 
The fifth group of symptoms: withdrawal, decreased ability to feel pleasure, lack of energy, and flat affect, are referred to as ‘Negative Symptoms’ because they represent a loss of normal functions.
 
Schizophrenia affects different people in different ways. Some people may experience only a few short episodes and then fully recover.  For others it lasts throughout their lives and needs to be treated like any other physical illness such as asthma or diabetes.
 
It is important that schizophrenia is treated as soon as it is diagnosed by a psychiatrist to prevent long-term disability and loss of function.
 
Treatment
Schizophrenia may be treated using a number of different approaches:
  • Use of antipsychotic medication
  • Psychosocial education programs e.g. education, support, counselling and assistance to return to job/studies/performing daily tasks
  • Ongoing support e.g. housing, monitoring of treatment, support groups.
Bipolar Disorder/Manic Depression

This is a mood disorder in which both depressive (persistent low mood) and manic (elevated or high mood) episodes are experienced. It is usually a recurring disorder that may disrupt many aspects of a person’s life. People with this disorder will experience periods of extreme mood changes but also periods of stable mood during which they may be able to return to everyday routines. These changes of mood can be very extreme and occur for no apparent reason. Different people will experience this disorder in different ways; some may have few episodes, others many, and symptoms may vary from mild to severe. When severely depressed or elevated, a person can become ‘psychotic’ i.e. lose touch with reality. Treatment Usually by medication especially mood stabilisers if depressed and manic. A combination of counselling and psychotherapy (‘talking therapy’), stress management and stabilising daily routines. Hospitalisation may be required for those who are very unwell and are posing a risk to themselves or to others.

This is a mood disorder in which both depressive (persistent low mood) and manic (elevated or high mood) episodes are experienced. It is usually a recurring disorder that may disrupt many aspects of a person’s life. People with this disorder will experience periods of extreme mood changes but also periods of stable mood during which they may be able to return to everyday routines.
 
These changes of mood can be very extreme and occur for no apparent reason. Different people will experience this disorder in different ways; some may have few episodes, others many, and symptoms may vary from mild to severe. When severely depressed or elevated, a person can become ‘psychotic’ i.e. lose touch with reality.
 
Treatment
  • Usually by medication especially mood stabilisers if depressed and manic.
  • A combination of counselling and psychotherapy (‘talking therapy’), stress management and stabilising daily routines.
  • Hospitalisation may be required for those who are very unwell and are posing a risk to themselves or to others.
Dementia With Challenging Behaviours

Dementia is a disease of the brain usually of a chronic or progressive nature in which there is a decline in function including memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, language and judgement. The impairments of cognitive function are commonly accompanied and occasionally preceded by deterioration in emotional control, social behaviour or motivation (WHO 1992). Sufferers of dementia can present with behaviours which can sometimes be quite difficult to manage (Behavioural Psychological Symptoms of Dementia). These can include:- hallucinations/delusions wandering aggression/physical harm to self and others depression/agitation screaming, crying disinhibition intrusiveness. Treatment Prior to any treatment we will contact your GP to rule out any physical cause. Assessment of behavioural disturbance by an appropriate clinician Behavioural intervention, education and advice Psychological interventions Pharmacological management Environmental management.

Dementia is a disease of the brain usually of a chronic or progressive nature in which there is a decline in function including memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, language and judgement.

The impairments of cognitive function are commonly accompanied and occasionally preceded by deterioration in emotional control, social behaviour or motivation (WHO 1992).

Sufferers of dementia can present with behaviours which can sometimes be quite difficult to manage (Behavioural Psychological Symptoms of Dementia). These can include:-

  • hallucinations/delusions
  • wandering
  • aggression/physical harm to self and others
  • depression/agitation
  • screaming, crying
  • disinhibition
  • intrusiveness.

Treatment

Prior to any treatment we will contact your GP to rule out any physical cause.

  • Assessment of behavioural disturbance by an appropriate clinician
  • Behavioural intervention, education and advice
  • Psychological interventions
  • Pharmacological management
  • Environmental management.

Programmes

Awhi Mātua (formerly Mental Health Services for Older People, MHSOP)

How Do We Help? We offer a range of support and treatments including: Specialist and comprehensive assessments Home based treatment and support Medication Talk Therapy Liaison with other services including primary care, Mana Awhi Older People's Health, and home-based support services Advice and support for carers and or family/whānau Education and advocacy Multidisciplinary approach to care planning.

Programme Areas

Crisis / acute, Mental health

Programme Type

DHB Mental Health Crisis, Intake / assessment, Community based support - mental health, Non-acute specialist mental health community services

Regions

Central Auckland

Age Groups

Older adult / Kaumātua

Referral Types

Self referral, GP, DHB clinical services

Referral Process

Referrals can be made by your GP, geriatrician or other health service provider.

A person or whānau member can self-refer and our team will usually discuss the referral with your GP if they haven't been involved.

Description

How Do We Help?

We offer a range of support and treatments including:

  • Specialist and comprehensive assessments
  • Home based treatment and support
  • Medication
  • Talk Therapy
  • Liaison with other services including primary care, Mana Awhi Older People's Health, and home-based support services
  • Advice and support for carers and or family/whānau
  • Education and advocacy
  • Multidisciplinary approach to care planning.

Contact Details

Greenlane Clinical Centre

Central Auckland

8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Mental Health Services 24 Hour Crisis Helpline - 0800 800717

Ground Floor
Building 14
Greenlane Clinical Centre
Greenlane Road West
Greenlane
Auckland

Information about this location

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Get directions

Street Address

Ground Floor
Building 14
Greenlane Clinical Centre
Greenlane Road West
Greenlane
Auckland

Postal Address

Private Bag 98189
Auckland Mail Centre
Epsom
Auckland 1051

This page was last updated at 9:15AM on June 20, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by Awhi Mātua | Auckland | Te Toka Tumai.