A not-for-profit youth mental health service will continue to meet growing demand with the support of a $55,000 grant by Central Lakes Trust (CLT).

Accepted referrals for ADL’s services have increased by 50 percent since 2019, its chief executive Clive McArthur said. 

“We have significantly ramped up our delivery of services to meet increasing demand,” he said.

Last year ADL provided services to more than 270 young people in Central Lakes, including 76 from the Wānaka area.

Five of its clinicians are based in the Wānaka area, part of a wider Central Lakes team of 11 which offers five different services for young people, all of them free.

They include Adventure Development Counselling (ADC), a longer-term programme for people aged 13-19 who are wanting more intensive help with mental health or alcohol and drug concerns. 

“ADC focuses on using activity and outdoor experiences to help develop new skills to better manage difficult times,” ADL representative Willow Macdonald told the Wānaka App.

“Young people will attend counselling sessions, day activities and all going well will be invited to attend a 4-9 day outdoor ‘journey’. We also support cultural identity with immersive marae-based journeys.”

It also offers Te Ara Hou, a similar service to ADC which is aimed at first time offenders and offers a supportive path to making more positive decisions.

Another of its services, Thrive Tae Pae Ora, a free professional counselling service for young people aged 12 to 24 (providing up to six face-to-face, online or telephone sessions), has grown significantly over the last five years. 

ADL is able to offer free services because of funding support from Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand, the Ministry of Social Development and other government agencies, but as costs increase, it has needed more support.

“We have an incredible depth of skill and experience in the team, but we also are aware that costs of running this team are escalating,” Clive said.

“This means we now need to look elsewhere for support to help our sustainability, and to retain the level of support we offer, ensuring that young people get what they need, when they need it.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Central Lakes Trust for their generous and timely support.”

ADL also has offices in Dunedin, Timaru and Invercargill and operates across the lower South Island.

Learn more about ADL on its website.

PHOTO: Supplied