We can...

• Listen to your concerns. 
• Give you information about your rights. 
• Assist you to identify and clarify issues. 
• Advocate on your behalf to resolve your concerns.
• Help with conflict resolution. 
• Provide information and 
• access to life skills/work skills programmes.
• Advice and information on peer support 
• networks.

Support you at meetings with...

• ​​Doctors- GP or Mental health
• WINZ - benefit or housing
• Mental Health Services  
• Lawyers
• Police 
• Community agencies
• Government agencies

Assist you to...

• Advocate on your behalf
• Assist to write Letters
• Transport you to meetings
• Put advance directives in place
• Refer to other services and/or people that may be more suitable

What you can expect from the Mental Health Advocacy Service

A free service which works in partnership with you to advocate on your behalf or support you to be respected, to have your rights heard and obtain the services you need…

• Meetings and Appointments
• Health Professionals
• Benefit issues
• Finances
• Housing
• Lifestyle and/or work support
• Letter writing

​Mental Health Advocacy Downloads

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• Your rights when using a health or disability service
  ​Read online or download at this LINK

• MHAS Brochure  

Our Advocates

Anne

Hi my name is Anne Collins, I am raised in Blenheim and continue to enjoy living here. I have six amazing children ranging from 30 to 19 years old plus two beautiful granddaughters, 7 and 3 years old.

While raising my children, I have been a caregiver for Oranga Tamariki (CYFS) where I have meet some amazing people and had many experiences with different agencies. I have always been passionate about children’s wellbeing, working in the field of family violence advocating for women and children to be free from violence and live safe and without fear in our community.
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I have had my own experience of mental health issues which I am still dealing with everyday, which is part of the reason I became a counsellor. I am enjoying meeting and working with our clients and advocating on behalf of them within our community, while building relationships with the many agencies and people along the way.

Jac

Hi I’m Jac Lockington!

I am thoroughly enjoying getting my teeth into my new role as Mental Health Advocate for CARE Marlborough.

Although it is a complete change from my career in finance over the last 25 years, my experience in Mental Health has been building over the last 19 years. I have battled with my own major depression diagnosis and have also raised (and continue to support) my daughters both of which suffer from illness.
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The places I’ve found myself in, the experiences I’ve endured and the valuable lessons I have learned over the last two decades have enabled me to gain my ‘QBE’ (Qualified by Experience). I am now able to build on my previous psychology study and step up to assist people encountering mental illness to navigate their goals.