Totara House early intervention in psychosis service — Canterbury

To contact Totara House, phone 03 377 9733

Our hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm.

In an after-hours emergency, call Crisis Resolution on 0800 920 092

Totara House early intervention in psychosis service is at:

183 Montreal Street
Christchurch

Location of Totara House — Google maps

We aim to reduce the disruption to people's lives by intervening early through a range of services, including:

• community treatment and support
• group programmes
• education about psychosis.

Learn more about psychosis

Whānau (family) support 

We recognise that psychosis has a major impact on the family, and it can be a lonely time for family members.

We work to support families who have a young person experiencing, or recovering from, a psychotic episode with:

• individual family support from a case manager or family support worker
• group education
• support programmes.

Whānau support group

The whānau support group is structured over 4 sessions. It includes information and discussion on:

• psychosis — possible causes, symptoms and treatment
• a video of a young man telling his story of psychosis
• the role of alcohol and illicit drugs
• the impact of psychosis on normal developmental processes
• recovery — especially the impact on the family
• setting limits and managing stress.

For a referral to Totara House, speak to your healthcare provider.

In an emergency, contact Crisis Resolution on 0800 920 092

• The New Zealand Early Intervention in Psychosis Society
• Nōku te ao

Other resources

• Coping with Schizophrenia — a guide for families by Kim T Mueser & Susan Gingerich
• Straight talk about mental illness: with emphasis on schizophrenia by Robert Miller
• Surviving Schizophrenia; 4th Edition By E. Fuller Torrey
• Living well with Schizophrenia — a book full of great ideas for people with schizophrenia By Sandra Miller, Walter Culture, Mark Cruikshank & Maxie Aston
• The Quiet Room By Lori Schiller & Amanda Bennett
• The Way Home – Susie's Story (video available to borrow from Totara House)
• "The Secret of the Brain Chip: a self-help guide for people experiencing psychosis", by De Hert, Magiels & Thys (2003). Available from Janssen-Cilag.