Te Pou Ora o te Piringatahi – a Regional Primary
Mental Health Initiative

Te Pou Ora o te Piringatahi is a Northland Regional Strategy that involves both Northland PHOs

• Te Tai Tokerau PHO
• Manaia PHO

The name – Te Pou Ora o te Piringatahi was gifted to the PHO’s as a koha by a group of Northland Kuia & Kaumatua to acknowledge their collective strength to improve health and wellbeing.

The objectives of Te Pou Ora o te Piringatahi are:

• To improve the identification, treatment and support for people with Mental Health & Addiction issues in Primary care.
• To provide better follow up and coordination.
• To promote better understanding and prevention of Mental health and Addiction issues in Northland.

The primary target group for this service are Northlanders who are enrolled with either of the Northland PHOs, who present with mild to moderate mental health issues. Severe mental health issues remain the specialist area of Northland DHB Mental Health & Addiction services.

Over the past two years, six new initiatives have been implemented by the PHOs :

• A new practitioner role has been established with six experienced Mental Health professionals employed across Northland to work with GP/Practice Nurses/Primary care staff in the care of clients with mild to moderate mental health issues.
• A website and database has been developed to collect and track information to better understand the mental health needs of the Northland population.
• Subsidised counselling has been made available for enrolled patients who are not eligible for government subsidised counselling.
• Hauora Hokianga and Whangaroa PHO have established a therapeutic recreation project where an experienced professional has been employed to promote healthy lifestyle and coping strategies / programs for difficult to access communities.
• The Relapse Prevention initiative provides specific support for patients ready for discharge from secondary mental services and resources a case managed transition back into the care of their GP.

A significant workforce development initiative commenced with a needs analysis, and the resulting education and training aimed to build the capacity of the primary health workforce to provide care to patients with mental health issues.