Hope Centre | Te Whare Tūmanako
The Hope Centre is a place of hope to visit if you are experiencing mental distress and/or addiction or bereavement and need support. We are a non-clinical service, all of our peer supporters have lived experience of mental distress. We can provide one-on-one support, monthly groups, advocacy and help you navigate Mental Health services. We are an 18+ service.
It’s a welcoming place where our peer supporters promise to listen to you and to ensure you connect with good support. Our wonderful peer supporters are trained with a basis in Intentional Peer Support and want to help you in any way they can, so don't be afraid to make an appointment. Come and have a chat over a cuppa and some kai.
We are located at 63 Hanover Street, Dunedin.
We are open for Peer Support from 9am-5.30pm Tuesday, 9am-9pm Wednesday to Friday and, 1pm to 9pm Saturday and Sunday. We accept tāngata whaiora in mental health crisis as drop-ins at any point during our opening hours.
Peer Support at Te Whare Tūmanako
Peer Support is a non-clinical service that is about people connecting with others over shared experiences, and building respectful and mutual relationships. It is also about validation of their experience of mental distress, social change and tino rangatiratanga/self-determination.
Within the context of Hope Centre | Te Whare Tūmanako, Peer Support is a process where a person with lived experience of mental distress, bereavement from suicide and/or addictions, is trained to listen, understand, and walk alongside others who are also experiencing mental health.
Peer Supporters at Life Matters are trained to follow the Intentional Peer Support (IPS) model , while incorporating Māori models of health such as Te Whare Tapa Wha , which encourages mutuality, respect, self-determination, transparency and intentionality. They are trauma-informed, and trained to ask what is happening for someone instead of what is wrong with them. Life Matters is proudly non-clinical – Peer Support is about walking beside someone as they decide what they want their life to look like and how they want to get there. Whānau ora is an important aspect of Peer Support at Life Matters as well, and guests are encouraged by their Peer Supporters to define who is in their whānau and incorporate them in their plans for wellness.
Alongside all of this training in IPS, Peer Supporters at Te Whare Tūmanako are also trained to be aware of diverse needs. We have staff and volunteers with lived experience of immigration, addictions, being from priority groups (a preferred term to minority groups), Te Ao Māori and Te Tiriti O Waitangi, neurodivergence, disability, and so much more. Peer Support is a space to learn from others, which means being open to and understanding of differences as well as seeing those differences as strengths. Peer Supporters are encouraged to consider what is happening for their guests in terms of Te Whare Tapa Wha – considering their spiritual, mental/emotional, physical, and social health as part of their overall wellness.
Ultimately, Peer Support is something that can enhance wellbeing and complement other services and supports someone might need in order to reach hauora/wellness. It does not replace clinical intervention for people struggling with their mental health – rather it can provide people with
another safe space that can bridge time between appointments and offer a different perspective on their experiences.
Are you in Crisis?
We are open to support people in crisis at the Hope Centre | Te Whare Tūmanako, 63 Hanover Street, Dunedin during the following hours.
Tuesday 9am - 5.30pm.
Wednesday to Friday 9am - 9pm.
Saturday and Sunday 1pm - 9pm.
The purpose of crisis support is to offer an elevated level of Peer Support to people who are experiencing a suicidal crisis. Set in our quiet, welcoming, and non-clinical Hope Centre, it is a time where someone who is in crisis can walk in and be met by someone trained to help them de-escalate and identify a safety plan. There are sensory-friendly spaces with dimmable lights, a weighted blanket, and other sensory modulation tools, as well as the option of kai and drinks.
People who are in crisis are welcomed to make use of our service as an alternative to reporting to Emergency Psychiatric Services. It can also be used as a waiting room that is not the emergency department, or Peer Supporters from the Hope Centre can accompany people to seek clinical intervention should that be identified as what is needed at that time.
If you are in a suicidal crisis our Peer Supporters are trained to work with you to ensure your safety needs are met and when appropriate, work with you to co-create a wellbeing plan that is tailored to your needs. They will listen, validate, and reassure you that you are not alone in feeling the way you are feeling. At the end of your session, they will make sure you can get home or to another service safely, and they will follow up with you the next day to check in on how you are doing. When you are in crisis, Peer Support sessions aren’t strictly timed – and you won’t ever hear a Peer Supporter say that you aren’t “severe enough” or that you “don’t meet the requirements for support”.
Whānau / Family Support
Whānau/Family Support Group Dunedin
This is a group for people who are supporting a loved one with their mental health. It is taken by trained facilitators and supported by the Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust | Te Whare Oranga Ngākau.
- The group meets on the third Tuesday of the month (except for December)
The dates for 2024 are:
20th February, 19th March, 16th April, 21st May, 18th June,
16th July, 20th August, 17th September, 15th October,
19th November - The group runs from 5.15pm to 6:45pm
Meetings take place at our Hope Centre | Te Whare Tūmanako, 63 Hanover Street, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Is a member of your whānau experiencing mental distress? Do you need support?
When the people we love are hurting, we hurt too.
Life Matters Whānau Support Group is a space where supporters can get the support they need to support the way they do.
It is a friendly coffee group atmosphere and you are most welcome to bring a support person along.
RSVP to admin@lifematters.org.nz to attend.
safeTALK
A suicide prevention workshop for everyone
Most people with thoughts of suicide don’t truly want to die but are struggling with the pain in their lives. Through their words and actions, they invite help to stay alive. safeTALK-trained helpers can recognize these invitations and take action by connecting them with life-saving intervention resources.
Our safeTALK trainers, Corinda Taylor and Jade Mitchell deliver workshops on suicide prevention, teaching how to recognise suicide warning signs. If you want to learn more about suicide prevention please feel free to contact us for a workshop. They also can come and deliver the workshop at your workplace or community group.
Education around suicide is important and can save lives.
If you are serious about making a difference in New Zealand please register for our next workshop in suicide alertness training and become a suicide alert helper. If you would like to organise one of our popular workshops please do not hesitate to contact us.
GP’s (Royal NZ College of GP’s endorsement), DAPAANZ and Midwifery points are accredited for this 3.5-hour training.
If you want to book a safeTALK workshop for your workplace or organisation, or make an inquiry for more information, please fill in the form below. Alternatively, you can also email us at admin@lifematters.org.nz
Someone at risk?
If you feel suicidal or someone you know could have suicidal thoughts, please get help immediately. You don’t have to go through this alone. There are many people willing to help.
In Crisis?Are you concerned about someone?
If you or someone you know is not feeling well, please reach out for help.
Concerned About Someone?
How suicide affects you
Emotional reactions
You may experience disturbances in your thinking and behaviour, as well as the following emotions:
- Shock and disbelief
- Anguish, longing and searching
- Anger, guilt, relief and shame
- Fear and anxiety
- Despair, depression and sadness
Shock and disbelief
These will often be the first reactions. In many cases, the suicide was not expected or there was little warning. You may feel dazed and numb and you may have nightmares. These are normal results of shock.“My world fell apart when my gentle, beautiful son died. The shock was immense. I cannot find the words to describe these moments… nothing made sense”You may also feel disorientated and out of touch with the world around you.“I walk down the street and nothing seems real, including myself.”
Anguish, longing and searching
You may have a desperate longing, not just to see the person again but to sort out whatever problems they were having and change the outcome for them. You find yourself searching for them and thinking that you see or hear them. You may find yourself behaving in ways which appear odd to outsiders but which help you to feel close to the person who died.
Anger
This is a common response to bereavement. You may be angry with yourself because you feel that you should have realised there was a problem or that you could have acted differently. You may be angry with others and this can take the form of blame – there is a danger of tormenting yourself if you pursue this. You may also feel angry with the person who died.“I feel so guilty when I get angry with you and I do get angry with you. Angry for the way you made me feel. Angry for the way my life has changed since you died. Angry with you for leaving. Angry with you for so many things – none of which is truly your fault.”
Guilt
You may feel guilty about things you believe that you could or should have done, or about your feelings about the death. Those bereaved by suicide are plagued by thoughts of “if only…” Very often it can be some time before we realise that the decision the person made was a result of many factors and that the apparent reason for their decision was just the last in a long series of events.
Relief
When the person who died was known to have had a troubled or unhappy life or made repeated suicide attempts, it is common for relief to be mixed in with other emotions that we feel. It can be difficult to admit this to ourselves and, when we do, we feel guilty about it. It is, however, a natural reaction. We are relieved not that the person’s life is over but that they are no longer suffering and those constant threats of suicide or other destructive acts will not happen again.
Shame
Some survivors feel ashamed because they feel that the suicide has branded them as, say, a bad parent, sister or partner in eyes of the community. This feeling of shame is often made worse by the stigma still attached to suicide and may be intensified if we isolate ourselves from people who we fear will blame or judge us.
Despair and depression
Following a bereavement by suicide, the constant swings of emotion, the never-ending questioning, the physical pain and lack of sleep all have an effect and you may need to consult your doctor. The pain you experience may be so intense that you find yourself having thoughts about taking your own life – you must seek help if you have these thoughts, get support from your doctor. Don’t delay.
Sadness
This is one of the most common feelings. It is natural to cry but it is also quite normal for some of us not to do this as we were brought up not to show our feelings. Men typically cry less than women but this is not always the case.“There were days when I could feel myself going downhill with no brakes and all I could do was shut myself in my bedroom and howl.”Grief can also affect sexual feelings and this can become a source of conflict between partners and lead to a greater sense of isolation.
Physical reactions
You may experience some or all of the following physical sensations:
You should be aware of any physical symptoms and consult with your doctor if they persist over a long period of time as they may lead to a more serious physical condition.
- Hollow or twisting pain in the stomach
- Tightness in the chest
- Tightness and pain in the throat
- Sensitivity to noise
- Breathlessness
- Disturbed sleep
- Poor concentration
- Lack of energy
Trauma
Trauma can be defined as a reaction to an adverse experience that can impact on all parts of a person's wellbeing and may stay with the person long after the traumatic experience has ended.
The death of another person by suicide can be traumatic. People may find themselves experiencing recurring nightmares and thoughts associated with the traumatic experience. These experiences can be distressing and may be a sign support from others is needed to move through the feelings associated with bereavement.
At the Hope Centre our Peer Supporters are trauma-informed, which means they are able to listen to your experience(s) from a curious non-judgemental stance and hold space for whatever tāngata whaiora (person seeking health) are comfortable sharing. Trauma is something that happens to you, it is not who you are.
Sometimes, people experiencing trauma may be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. You should speak with your GP if you are experiencing symptoms of post traumatic stress. Whilst antidepressant medication may be prescribed, you may feel that these are not appropriate to your needs and you may want to explore an intervention such as psychological therapy.
At the Hope Centre, our Peer Supporters are here to provide non-clinical support and with the help of donations, we are able to subsidise therapy with trained counsellors.
For more information about post traumatic stress, its symptoms and treatment, click here.
This section has been largely reproduced from Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (UK), with their kind permission. We would like, especially, to mention its author John Peters. For more information about how suicide affects you and others, please don’t hesitate to click here.
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