Mental health service opens | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua
Mental health service opens
Tutei o te Haua a Kiwa co-ordinator Lila Baker. (eb0212lila)
By HAMISH RUTHERFORD in Whakatane
The doors have opened to a new Whakatane service helping people with mental illness.
Tutei o te Haua a Kiwa officially opened yesterday after two years of planning. Run by people with mental illness, the service aims to provide support and advocacy.
Co-ordinator Lila Baker, who has run seminars for people with mental illness through the Serious Fun In Mind Trust, said she was reduced to tears at the opening and viewed it as reaching the top of a mountain.
Funding from the Bay of Plenty District Health Board came after two years of planning and applications by the consumer advisory service.
Mrs Baker said the services the centre would offer ranged from help with everyday arrangements, such as accommodation and food, to support for those having various other troubles.
"If someone comes to us with a problem, whether it is with the police or the courts or whatever, I will do whatever I can to help them," Mrs Baker said.
She said people who had experienced mental illness were often able to establish a better rapport with others with mental illness.
"For example, if you've never had depression how can you know what it is?" said Mrs Baker.
The centre is adjacent to Whakatane's Disability Resource Centre which it will use for seminars and training.
The doors have opened to a new Whakatane service helping people with mental illness.
Tutei o te Haua a Kiwa officially opened yesterday after two years of planning. Run by people with mental illness, the service aims to provide support and advocacy.
Co-ordinator Lila Baker, who has run seminars for people with mental illness through the Serious Fun In Mind Trust, said she was reduced to tears at the opening and viewed it as reaching the top of a mountain.
Funding from the Bay of Plenty District Health Board came after two years of planning and applications by the consumer advisory service.
Mrs Baker said the services the centre would offer ranged from help with everyday arrangements, such as accommodation and food, to support for those having various other troubles.
"If someone comes to us with a problem, whether it is with the police or the courts or whatever, I will do whatever I can to help them," Mrs Baker said.
She said people who had experienced mental illness were often able to establish a better rapport with others with mental illness.
"For example, if you've never had depression how can you know what it is?" said Mrs Baker.
The centre is adjacent to Whakatane's Disability Resource Centre which it will use for seminars and training.
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