Engage Aotearoa

Service User Initiatives

Service User Initiatives

This section lists services, groups, and networks that are led by people who have lived experience of mental-health problems or using mental-health services. Many people find the mutual support, connection and sharing of ideas that happens within peer relationships to be a big help in their recovery. For many people, contact with others who have been there provides a big source of hope and helps reduce the stigma that can be attached to these experiences. Some community services also provide peer support options and are listed in the community support section of the directory.

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Nationwide

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
AA is an international 12-step programme set up by people with lived experience of alcohol addiction for people with lived experience of alcohol addiction. There are support groups across New Zealand which you can find at the link below. Those who do not hold spiritual views can access a separate support group that has alternative ways of looking at the idea of accepting a ‘higher power’.
https://aa.org.nz/meetings/
https://aa.org.nz/meetings/aa-for-atheists/ 

Aotearoa Therapists with Lived Experience Network
ATLEN aims to empower therapists with lived experience and enable them to connect with other like minds for peer support.
https://theatlen.wordpress.com/
www.facebook.com/TheATLEN/

Changing Minds
Changing Minds is a small, peer-led charitable trust that works to provide information, education, and systemic advocacy for people who experience mental distress or addiction issues in Auckland. They also have an active online community and provide a range of online peer support groups called Whakatau Mai: The Wellbeing Sessions.
www.changingminds.org.nz | 762 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden | 09 623 1762 | operations@changingminds.org.nz
www.wellbeingsessions.nz/

Frozen Funds Trust
The purpose of the Frozen Funds Charitable Trust is to provide grants for projects run by, and for, people who use mental health or intellectual disability services.
www.publictrust.co.nz/grants/how-do-i-find-one/grants/frozen-funds-charitable-trust

GROW
This is a 12-step programme similar to Alcoholics Anonymous but for people who experience mental-health challenges.  Grow runs regular free support meetings that bring people who want to change together. Grow operate across New Zealand and you can also find them on MeetUP.com
www.grow.org.nz

Hearing Voices Network
Support, information and resources for people who hear voices, run by people who hear voices.  Learn how to cope with and manage voices.  Meet other voice-hearers. Support groups all around the country. www.hearingvoices.org.nz/ | 0272650266 | hvnanz@gmail.com
www.hearingvoices.org.nz/index.php/en/support-groups

Like Minds, Like Mine
A national project to reduce mental health stigma and discrimination in NZ led by people with lived experience with initiatives happening all over the country. The Like Minds webpage is full of information, stories and perspectives.
www.likeminds.org.nz

The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
The Mental Health Foundation of NZ is a service-user led charitable organisation that shares mental health information and resources including the Five Ways to Wellbeing and, in Auckland, a resource room and library. 
www.mentalhealth.org.nz | 23 Edwin St, Mt Eden | (09) 300 7010 (main office) | (09) 300 7030 (resource centre) | resource@mentalhealth.org.nz

NZ Mental Health Consumer / Whaiora Info Sharing
An open Facebook group for people who experience mental-health challenges of all kinds to connect and share information with each other online.
www.facebook.com/groups/1532333990405997/

Peer Zone
Peer-led wellbeing workshops and training to deliver them yourself.
www.peerzone.info/ | (04) 385 4277 | info@peerzone.info

Service-User Radio  

The Mind Tribe
The Mind Tribe is led 100% by people with lived experience of difficulties with mental health and wellness. They work to help Kiwis maintain their personal and collective mental health and wellbeing through free and engaging peer-to-peer advocacy and support, with a special focus on providing information and support around medication withdrawal. They run a support group in Auckland and online.
www.themindtribe.org/ | Contact 021 0248 2250 | danny@themindtribe.org | www.facebook.com/themindtribe/

Auckland

DRIVE Consumer Direction Counties Manukau
DRIVE Consumer Direction is a peer support network for people who experience mental health or addictions challenges within the CMDHB region. They provide a range of different recovery focused activities and support groups that meet throughout the year, including the Counties Manukau Bipolar Support Group, regular Recovery College events, and more. DRIVE is part of Ember Korowai Trust and stands for Development, Recovery, Information, Voice and Education. www.drivedirection.org/drive/ 
www.facebook.com/DRIVEConsumerDirection
www.healthpoint.co.nz/mental-health-addictions/mental-health-addictions/counties-manukau-bipolar-support-group/

Engage Aotearoa
Engage Aotearoa is a service-user led initiative that aims to make it easier for people to find what they need for their recovery journey by creating resources that unite service-user perspectives with evidence from the field of psychology.
www.engagenz.co.nz

Crossroads Clubhouse
A drop-in centre and resource treasure-trove for people with experience of mental distress – join up and get access to courses and events, use the computers or just drop in for lunch.  
www.crossroadsclubhouse.org.nz/ | 393 Great North Road, Grey Lynn | (09) 376 4267

Mind and Body Consultants 
A peer-led service providing peer support, advocacy, and community mental health promotion.  
www.mindandbody.co.nz | (09) 630 5909  | 395A Manukau Road, Epsom | admin@mindandbody.co.nz

Peer Support Workers
Ember, Emerge, Kahui tu Kaha, Pathways, and Walsh Trust all provide peer support work services in Auckland. They are listed in the Community Support Services section of the directory.

Piri Pono Peer-Led Acute Alternative
– see listing in the Respite Services section.

Shared Vision
Shared Vision is a consumer forum that works to promote awareness of mental health in the community – they work to connect service-users and providers with information and resources and run regular community meetings in Waitakere, North Shore, and Rodney.
www.heartsandminds.org.nz/ | 09 441 8989 | info@heartsandminds.org.nz   
Shared Vision Rodney: http://sharedvisionrodney.org.nz/ |0275 433 418 | support@sharedvisionrodney.org.nz

Supporting Families
Supporting Families is run by people who have lived experience supporting family members with mental-health problems. See listing in the Community Support Services section of the directory.

Te Ata
A peer support service in West Auckland providing a programme of group activities to meet the needs of members.
www.teata.org.nz | Office: 09-8370671 Member’s line: 09-8370670 | 52 Keeling Road, Henderson| te-ata@xtra.co.nz

Toi Ora Live Arts Trust
A community arts centre for people who experience mental-health problems, co-designed and delivered by people with lived experience. See listing in the Community Support Services section of the directory.

Tupu Ake
A peer-led respite service in South Auckland, run by Pathways Trust. See the Pathways listing in the Respite Services section.

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