Waitematā DHB He Puna Waiora

Public Service, Mental Health

Description

He Puna Waiora - "A pool of wellness" - is Waitematā DHB's new 46-bed mental health facility on Shakespeare Road, adjacent to North Shore Hospital. Developed on modern design principles and clinical best practice, the building has dedicated therapeutic spaces enabling staff to better use a range of modern treatment methods to support mental health clients in their recovery. Proximity to the main hospital ensures ready access to diagnostics and other medical specialists which is crucial when caring for those with other associated health conditions.

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.

A ‘consultant 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 consultant psychiatrist if your doctor feels you need specialist help.

Referral Expectations

You will be referred to a psychiatrist 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 psychiatrist or a trainee psychiatrist in the Community Mental Health Team covering the geographic area where you live.

At times you may become very unwell if you have not responded to treatment as expected. In this situation, 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 admitted into a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT), you will be assessed by a psychiatrist. Following completion of the psychiatric assessment, you may be assigned a Case Manager (CM) 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).

After a period of assessment, treatment and rehabilitation under the CMHT, you may become well and safe enough to be discharged into the care of your GP. The CMHT will discharge you only after consultation with yourself, your family (whanau) or other significant person (if involved in your care and treatment) and your GP. These decisions are very important and are only taken after further discussion in the weekly MDT meeting.

Once discharged, you may be re-referred to the CMHT 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 will 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.

Procedures / Treatments

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects about 1% of the general population.… More
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.… More
Depression

Depression is a mood disorder. Emotional states like sadness, ‘feeling blue’ or tearfulness are part of normal human experience.… More
Anxiety Disorders

We all feel some anxiety at some time or other.… More
Drug-Induced Psychosis

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