Primary mental health brief intervention, counselling and psychology services (referral)

Any practice in Taranaki can refer for this service.  

Youth can be referred by counsellors, teachers or guidance counsellors. 

The service offers a Package of Care which is 4 sessions over a period of 12 weeks for both counselling and psychology.   

An extension of 2 sessions may be approved in some cases. 

There is a stand down period of 6 months before another referral can be accepted. 

• Adults (20 years +) living in the Taranaki DHB area and enrolled with a Taranaki practice.  
• Youth aged 10 to 19 years old irrespective of practice enrolment. 
• Priority is given to Pacific, Māori, youth and CSC holders. 

• Adults (20 years +) who are not enrolled with a Taranaki practice.  
• Patients who are currently receiving secondary mental health services. 
• Patients with moderate to severe mental health issues. 
• Patients who require crisis intervention.
• Patients displaying signs of suicidal intent
• Patients at serious risk of harm to others
• Severe mental health/alcohol and drug presentation
• Heavy substance/alcohol abuse
• Developmental and/or behavioural issues
• Eating disorders
• Patients who are eligible for any other form of funded therapy e.g., ACC WINZ 

There is a stand down period of 6 months before another referral can be accepted

For the practice - once the referral has been made. 

For the third party contracted service provider – after a Package of Care which is 4 sessions over a period of 12 weeks. 

An extension of 2 sessions may be approved in some cases prior to discharge. 

Practices are required to submit an eReferral requesting a package of care for their patient. These referrals are clinically triaged then the sessions are provided by third party counsellors and psychologists. 

Patients or practices cannot refer directly to the third-party providers, the referral needs to be via the Taranaki Primary Connections service to ensure the patient receives the funded service. 

Please provide K10 scores and any relevant priority criteria information i.e. Māori, Pacific, youth or low income with your referral. 

Practices are required to provide sufficiently detailed consultation notes to determine appropriate use of funding.  

It has been recommended that in addition to a good assessment and history, the full range of appropriate observations should be documented. It is important to state the time of consultations and interactions with the patient.  

Please provide K10 scores and any relevant priority criteria information i.e. Māori, Pacific, youth or CSC holder. 

The service is funded by Te Whatu Ora Taranaki.