Better access to mental health support is on its way to the Southern region, with the introduction by WellSouth of seven new health improvement practitioners (HIPs) in primary care, including one who will be based in Wanaka.  

HIPs (health improvement practitioners) are qualified and registered health professionals with experience in mental health and they offer 15-30 minute appointments.

WellSouth, Southern DHB and the NGO sector, who are working in partnership to implement the programme, said this was the beginning of an exciting initiative that will see further support roles over the coming months.

The mental health clinicians will be based at general practices and work directly with GPs, nurse practitioners and practice teams. They will provide free and timely support for patients and clients wanting help and guidance with behaviour change.

“The immediacy of the help and the normalising of mental health services are among the benefits of this model,” WellSouth director of nursing Wendy Findlay said.

Unlike most mental health practitioners, the HIPs do not carry a case load; instead they are introduced to the patient by a GP or practice nurse and often see patients on the same day.

“GPs and nurses will be able to do what is called a ‘warm handover’ meaning they can introduce a patient immediately to the HIP for support, without having to make an appointment for a later date,” Wendy said.

WellSouth senior communications advisor Moira Finn told the Wanaka App the Wanaka Medical Centre and Aspiring Medical Centre would be served by one HIP Friederike Andree.

Friederike trained in Germany before moving to New Zealand, where she has worked for the Department of Conservation in Central Otago before continuing in her career as a social worker and drug and alcohol counsellor. 

“[Friederike] has been working in the Queenstown drug and alcohol service and is looking forward to working closer to her new home in Wanaka,” Moira said.

Other HIPs will be based at Te Kaika, Mornington Health Centre and Broadway Medical Centre in Dunedin, Clutha Health First in Balclutha, Queenstown Medical Centre and Invercargill Medical Centre. 

WellSouth said it expects to recruit three more - to be hosted in practices in Invercargill, Gore and Oamaru - before the end of the year.

The initiative is an important step that moves towards the aspirations of the Southern mental health and addictions system, Southern Health Mental Health and Addictions Network Leadership Group chair John MacDonald said.

“It is great to see one of the key initiatives of the He Ara Oranga, Mental Health Review coming to fruition and also new services in primary care for people with mild to moderate mental health issues [which is] an area also identified in the Southern mental health and addiction system’s Raise Hope – Hāpai te Tūmanako Strategy,” he said.

“It is also of particular benefit at this time as we are implementing the psychosocial response to the COVID-19 crises, and there is a need for these services across the district but particularly in the Queenstown Lakes District.”

PHOTO: Wanaka App