Partners helps fund depression recovery centre

New Zealand’s private sector is stepping up to help solve the “epidemic of mental distress" that was highlighted by the Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry in 2018. Countering the crisis as an expert service provider is the new Whakamātūtū Wellington Depression Recovery Centre, which is now opening its doors to its first patients and will provide treatment and support to more than 300 adults each year.

Critical funding for the programme is being committed by Partners Life, which is gifting $500,000 to the Trust to facilitate hardship grants for New Zealanders seeking treatment through the Centre, the first of its kind in the country. This enables access for those who might otherwise be financially unable to afford treatment.

The Centre, operated by the Depression Recovery Trust, has designed a programme tailored for people experiencing moderate to severe levels of depression, anxiety, and other common forms of mental distress. 

As the 2022 Mental Health Service Monitoring Report by the Mental Wellbeing Commission found, 9.6% of adults are experiencing high or very high levels of psychological distress, which equates to 50,000 people in the Wellington region. Positioned as a transitional step above primary care and below inpatient care, the Centre’s recovery-oriented programme aims to bridge a crucial void in the continuum of mental health services in the Wellington region.