A new 24-hour residential mental health service has officially opened in Taranaki, with health leaders saying the facility will strengthen support for people experiencing serious mental health and addiction challenges in the region.
The new service, Te Puna Wai Kātea, is located on the Taranaki Base Hospital campus and is designed to provide short- to medium-term residential care focused on recovery and reintegration into the community.
The facility includes four residential stay rooms, shared living and dining spaces, whānau areas and activity rooms aimed at creating a more supportive and home-like environment for people needing intensive mental health support.
Health officials say the service will operate alongside existing crisis and community mental health teams already working across Taranaki, including mobile assessment and brief care services available around the clock.
The facility forms part of Health New Zealand’s national Mental Health Infrastructure Programme, which is delivering upgraded and purpose-built mental health services across the country. Te Puna Wai Kātea was completed at a cost of around $6 million.
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says the focus of the new residential unit is to help people transition safely back into the community with wraparound support involving health providers, whānau and social agencies.
Mental health services in Taranaki include acute inpatient care, addiction services, child and adolescent mental health support, elderly mental health services and mobile crisis response teams operating throughout the region.
Community organisations and support providers say access to local residential care can reduce pressure on hospital services while allowing tāngata whaiora to remain connected to whānau, culture and community during recovery.
The new service is expected to begin receiving residents from July.
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