The Collaborative Design of Mental Health & Addictions approach sits as an initiative and priority within the Growing Collective Wellbeing Regional Suicide Prevention Strategy. Whānau identified the challenge to finding the right type of support at the right time was difficult and daunting. Whānau talked about experiencing discrimination and judgement through their interactions with different services. Community and practitioners wanted to see a collaborative re-design of services to make finding support a mana-enhancing experience.
We know that in order to be more effective and accelerate success we will need to transform and change our approach to the delivery of Mental Health and Addiction services across the rohe (region), through shared understanding and ownership of the highest priority changes needed for rapid action across the life continuum.
On the 2nd of March this year we brought together Managers and Team Leads within Iwi and specialist Adult Mental Health and Addiction Service’s to participate in whakawhanaungatanga, a process to help strengthen relationships and connections both internally and externally for kaimahi working across services. The intention being, to form quality relationships and strengthen connections so that we move towards a united and more cohesive response to Mental Health & Addictions. This becomes the starting point for moving the sector and community towards collectively addressing the systemic conditions holding persistent issues in place.
There is acknowledgment that this mahi encompasses two world views sharing space, these being clinical and Mātauranga Māori. Collaborative innovation and implementation, needs to hold the strength of both views in order to create spaces for equity, accessibility and community-led design.