Mental Health Brief Intervention Service — South Canterbury

Mental Health Brief Intervention Service provides 4 free sessions with a registered health professional trained in ‘talking therapies’. You must be over 18, have a South Canterbury address and be enrolled with a healthcare provider.

On this page

In a crisis

If you, or someone you know, needs immediate help you can either:

  • call 111
  • go to your nearest emergency department
  • contact your local mental health crisis assessment team.

Mental health crisis assessment teams (internal link)

Contact us

To contact the Mental Health Brief Intervention Service in South Canterbury:

phone: 03 687 7120

Where to find us

The Mental Health Brief Intervention Service is at:

Talbot Community Health Hub
156 Otipua Road
Timaru

Services we provide

The Mental Health Brief Intervention Service (MHBIS) provides 4 free sessions with a registered health provider who has trained in ‘talking therapies’.

You will be contacted within a few days of you being referred to our service. We will aim to see you within 3 weeks.

One of our clinical team will see you at the Talbot Park Community Health Hub or a suitable community venue — their hours of work are from Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm.

The MHBIS offers 2 options:

  • Puawaitanga — a virtual (online) face-to-face service
  • MHBIS — an in-person face-to-face service.

Our clinicians can help people with:

  • anxiety
  • depression
  • stress
  • grief and loss
  • relationship or family issues
  • socioeconomic stress
  • cultural and spiritual support
  • alcohol and drug issues
  • work stress
  • the impact of stress on your functioning and ability to cope.

Referral information

You can be referred to our service by:

  • your healthcare provider
  • Mental Health and Addictions Services
  • the hospital emergency department
  • the Integrated Community Assessment Treatment Team (iCATT).

Acceptance criteria

To be accepted for our brief intervention service you must:

  • be over 18 years of age
  • have a South Canterbury address
  • be enrolled with a general practice.