Charity depression recovery centre gets public list referrals
supplied
Wellington's unfunded depression recovery centre
Whakamātūtū
relies on donations but is being asked to take on patients from the public list.
The community programme offers therapeutic six week and four week day programmes for people with moderate to severe mental health needs.
It was established almost 18 months ago and offers a wrap-around programme - with a GP, psychiatrist, psychotherapists, a trauma treatment specialist as well as art, music and massage therapy.
It has backing from private health insurers and some referrals from ACC - but otherwise no public funding.
Whakamātūtū Director Martin Quinn says the programme helps what he calls the "missing middle" who suffer in silence, and says despite mostly being funded from donations, it is getting referrals from Health NZ's secondary mental health services.
He speaks with Susie Ferguson, along with board chair and former Retirement Commissioner, Dame Diana Crossan.
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