HealthInfo Canterbury
Rural services
Ratonga taiwhenua
Comcare Trust – Activelinks
Phone: (03) 377-7020
Comcare Trust Activelinks is for people 18 and over who have a mental illness or addiction issue.
Services available:
- Support to help you get active through physical activity, sport, recreation and leisure pursuits. Staff have a fitness training qualification and a certificate in mental health support.
- Programmes based on your goals, aspirations, and identified needs.
- You can refer yourself or a health professional, friend of whānau (family) member can refer you.
Comcare Trust – Jobconnect
Phone: (03) 377-7020
Comcare Trust – Jobconnect is for people aged 16 to 65 years with experience of mental illness.
Services available:
- Full employment search and support service for both job seekers and employers.
- Advice about career and work choice options, information and training.
- A pre-employment service that lets you explore the idea of working and helps you either independently or accompanied.
- Qualified peer support workers and employment consultants.
Mental Health Advocacy and Peer Support (MHAPS)
Phone: (03) 365‑9479 or 0800‑437‑324
Address: Unit 4/357 Madras St, Christchurch.
MHAPS is a peer-led and peer-delivered mental health and addictions service. All its peer workers have their own lived experience of mental distress or addiction and of meaningful recovery. Their experience helps them to listen to you carefully.
Services available:
- Peer advocacy.
- Peer support in groups or for individuals.
- Change programmes and workshops.
- Activity and social programmes.
Mental Health Education and Resources Centre (MHERC)
Phone: (03) 365‑5344 or 0800‑424‑399
Address: 116 Marshland Rd, Shirley, Christchurch.
Services available:
- MHERC provides a referral and information service to help identify the services that are best for you.
- There is also a free mental health library and resource centre with information about specific conditions and diagnoses.
Comcare Trust – North Canterbury
Phone: (03) 377‑7020 or 027‑917‑2975
Services available:
- Comcare Trust North Canterbury is a recovery-focused organisation that provides free mental health and addiction services in the Waimakariri and Hurunui Districts. It is people with diagnosed mental illness or addiction issues.
- Community mental health support workers (CMHSW) guide people towards independence using a holistic goal-based approach. A mental health provider or general practice team can refer you to a CMHSW.
- Activelinks encourages mental and physical wellbeing through physical activity individually and in groups.
- Peer support uses shared experiences to support people one to one to help them understand what is happening and how they can move forward.
Step Ahead Trust
Phone: 0800‑688‑732
Addresses: 2 locations in Christchurch, 1 in Ashburton and 1 in Rangiora. See Step Ahead locations for details.
Step Ahead is for people aged 18 and over with a mental illness who can attend meetings independently. That means you must have at least a basic level of motivation. You may be helped in your first visit by your community support worker, a whānau (family) member, a friend or another support person. You can attend as often as you like as long as you take part in meaningful activities.
Services available:
- Activity-based rehabilitation to promote self-development and get you into the community. Where possible it helps you find employment through Comcare's Jobconnect service.
- Staff have qualifications such as occupational therapy, school teaching or adult education.
Yellow Brick Road
Phone: (03) 366‑9284 or 0800‑876‑682
Address: 3/21 Birmingham Dr, Middleton, Christchurch.
Services available:
- Yellow Brick Road provides information and education about accessing services, understanding the privacy and mental health acts and medications and their impact.
- Support groups.
- WAVES programme for those bereaved by suicide.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed November 2023.
Review key: HIHMI-138165
