March 22, 2024
Mental health peer support for emergency departments
The director Māori of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission has given the thumbs up to plans to set up a new mental health and addiction peer support service in hospital emergency departments.
Maraea Johns says it’s a positive move from Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey.
People who bring a lived experience of mental distress can being valuble knowledge and empathy to the support process.
“And so having to navigate that hospital and health system, that’s what they bring to that kaupapa and as peer support specialists they can really build trust quickly because they share that experience with the whanau member going through the experience at the time, they can share their knowledge and solutions based on their own lived experience. Their work is like role models for hope and well being for those whanau,” Ms Jones says.
Benefits of the services should flow on to frontline services and reinforces kaupapa Maori programmes within hospitals.
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