Tiaho Mai
Tiaho Mai is an acute mental health unit situated in the grounds of Middlemore Hospital. There are three wards:
- Kuaka is the intensive care unit with 12 beds
- Huia is a ward of 20 beds
- Tui is a ward of 18 beds
We provide care for people from Otahuhu to Mercer, coast to coast including Kaiaua and Port Waikato.
We are an inpatient unit, where people are admitted into a hospital setting with mental health problems during a crisis.
The name Tiaho Mai translates to the light that comes from the moon and the stars "Shine Here".
Purpose of Tiaho Mai
It has been agreed that the purpose of the CMDHB mental health acute inpatient unit (Tiaho Mai) is:
The provision of intensive or complex 24 hour mental health assessment and/or treatment in a safe environment, provided as a short term episode of care that aims to help people reach a point where they can safely access other services. Acute inpatient services are provided as part of an overall continuum of care that includes a range of acute treatment options.
What is Mental Illness?
Mental illness is a clinically significant behaviour or psychological (to do with the mind) disorder that is associated with distress or disability. It is not just the way someone responds to a particular event nor is it limited to the way a person interacts with society.
A mental illness can continuously or intermittently (occasionally) affect our capacity for speech, language, mood, affect, thoughts, perceptions, insight, judgement, cognition (understanding) and volition (ability to make choices). It can limit our ability to function as society would normally expect of us and can put us and others at risk.
Mental illness is therefore, a broad term that covers problems ranging from minor to severe disorders. Common mental health conditions include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorder and memory problems (see below for more information about these conditions).
Who is a Psychiatrist?
A ‘psychiatrist’ is a doctor who, after basic medical qualifications, receives further training and develops the expertise to become a ‘specialist’ in identifying symptoms of, and diagnosing and treating, mental illnesses. You may have been referred to a psychiatrist if your doctor feels you need specialist help.
You will be referred to a team, dependent on your age, by your GP if your symptoms are severe and you are not able to function well. Sometimes there may be a waiting period before you can be seen by a member of the team.
If your situation requires immediate attention then urgent assessments can be arranged by your GP via the Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (CATT). There will also be an arrangement set up for you to contact the CATT if things start getting worse or you feel unsafe with yourself.
Once accepted by a team you will be assessed by members of that team and assigned a psychiatrist. Following completion of the psychiatric assessment, you may be assigned a Case Manager (CM) / Keyworker to provide for your ongoing care and support in the community. Your CM will be part of the Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT) which is a group of experienced mental health professionals including your psychiatrist, Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPNs), trainee psychiatrist (if any), psychologists, Social Workers (SWs), and Occupational Therapists (OTs).
When your symptoms that you were referred for have improved you will be discharged to your GP. The team will discharge you only after consultation with yourself, your family (whanau) or other significant person (if involved in your care and treatment) and they will advise your GP.
Once discharged, you may be re-referred to the appropriate service by your GP if your mental state becomes of concern. Usually all referrals, assessments and treatments will be done with your consent but if you are so mentally unwell that you have no awareness of your health and are consequently unable to agree to treatment, then your treatment and care can be compulsory under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992. This Act is designed to provide assessment and safe treatment without causing you further harm of any sort. As soon as you are well and safe enough, you will be discharged from under the MH (CAT) Act 1992.
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Anxiety Disorder
We all feel some anxiety at some time or other...
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Bipolar Disorder / Manic Depression
This is a mood disorder in which both depressive (persistent low mood) and manic (elevated or high mood) episodes are experienced...
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Depression
Depression is a mood disorder. Emotional states like sadness, 'feeling blue' or tearfulness are part of normal human experience...
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Intervention/Treatment Options
The Acute Inpatient Unit will offer a range of interventions including: provision of medication and the monitoring of medication effects and side effects physical health investigations service user and family/whanau education re mental illness and treatment including options for self help and self management range of psychological interventions aimed at...
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Mental Health in the Elderly
Memory Problems There are several types of memory problems people can have...
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Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects about 1% of the general population...
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Kuaka
Weekdays - 3.30pm to 7.00pm
Weekends - 10.00am to 7.00pm
Huia & Tui
Weekdays - 3.30pm to 8.00pm
Weekends - 10.00am to 8.00pm
Visiting can be at other times by prior arrangement.
Visiting is always at the discretion of the nurse in charge of the ward, taking into consideration patient care.
In their best interests, children are not allowed to visit on the wards. A nurse will be able to arrange for visits to take place in a more suitable area on the Unit.
IF THERE IS ANY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT VISITORS ARE USING OR SUPPLYING ILLICIT SUBSTANCES, DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, OR PUTTING RECOVERY OF ADMITTED PERSONS AT RISK, THEY WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE GROUNDS. IF THEY REFUSE TO DO SO SECURITY WILL BE CALLED TO ASSIST.
After Hours Visiting
- Visitors should contact the ward before arriving at Tiaho Mai to arrange visits after hours.
- On arrival, visitors report to Reception who will give you a "visitors pass".
- Visits may be rescheduled if the ward is too unsettled.
Visitor Responsibilities
- Visitors must behave in a considerate manner towards other people.
- Children must be supervised at all times by a responsbile adult.
- On arrival visitors report to Reception who will inform the ward and give you a "visitors pass".
- Visitors may be asked to leave the Unit upon activation of an emergency alarm.
- All property brought into the hospital should be declared to nursing staff on arrival to ensure safety in the Unit. Items of risk include:
- lighters or matches
- glass bottles or mirrors
- belts and cords
- medication
- tins or cans
- razors or other sharp objects
- energy drinks
- mobile phones
- money or other valuable items.
