Awareness is a network of people who have used mental health or addictions services, or identify with experiencing mental illness, substance use issues or distress. We meet monthly as a group, and hold smaller, working group meetings to undertake projects to make a difference to mental health and addiction services and to wider society. Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month from 12.30pm and are a welcoming space open to anyone who identifies with having personal experience of mental illness or addictions.
Mission Statement
To ensure effective mental health and addictions services in Canterbury by supporting individuals to make a difference, and becoming a collective voice for change.
Issues we are actively addressing include
• Ensuring mental health is on the political agenda during elections
• Advocating for peer support alternatives to crisis and hospital services
• Seclusion Reduction and Elimination Resource ‘Opening Doors’
• Issues impacting young people
• Providing a consumer voice on DHB and Ministry of Health submissions
• Promoting and supporting research by people with lived experience
• Co-design and consumer consultancy
• Up-skilling our members by running forums, skills workshops and funding training attendance
Getting Involved
To become involved in Awareness, people are welcome to join the network. Members are notified of upcoming meetings, projects, forums, events and opportunities to provide feedback from a consumer point of view to improve services. People who do not identify with having personal experience of mental illness or addictions, but who would like to support the network in what we do, are welcome to become Friends of Awareness. Family members, support workers and clinical staff can all become Friends of Awareness, as can organisations. If you would like to become a member please contact us.
Find out more
• Contact us by email or phone 366 8288 to find out more about getting involved
awareness@mhaps.org.nz
• Or to join the email list, fill out a membership form
Now also on Facebook.
Awareness Canterbury 