November 26, 2018
Mental health clinic place of peace
Mental health services in the Auckland region have been boosted with the opening of Tiaho Mai, a new adult mental health inpatient facility in the grounds of Middlemore Hospital.
Counties Manukau Health senior cultural advisor Mahaki Albert says the 38-bed unit was designed in consultation with community partners, iwi and consumers of mental health services with the aim of creating a space that contributed to treatment and rehabilitation.
With no visible fences or barred windows, large, comfortable communal spaces, open courtyards, and a whare out front, it has a different look to typical mental health units.
"What we wanted was a good indoor-outdoor flow, high ceilings, more space, where whānau could feel peace while gaining ora for themselves," Mr Albert says.
Construction of stage two of Tiaho Mai will start early in 2019, doubling its capacity to 76 beds.
Image credit: countiesmanukau.health.nz
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