Future Directions - Background

The Southland Mental Health Network, called Future Directions was established in 2005, and is designed to deliver better services by providers for mental health consumers and their families. It does this by:

• Including Everyone:
  The Network has members from all of the major groups working in mental health including NGOs (Non-Government Organisations), PHOs (Primary Health Organisations), consumers and families.
   
  
• Sharing Ideas:
  The Network provides an opportunity to share information and discuss ideas and concerns openly and honestly.
   
  
• Taking Action:
  The Network develops and runs projects on behalf of all providers, consumers and their families.
   
  
• Providing Feedback:
  Members of the Network take ideas and information back to their own organisations and networks and give feedback and advice to the Southland District Health Board.

In Southland there are 8 sectors that represent service providers, consumers and families. The diagram illustrates their relationship and each of them has representatives sitting on the central group called the Network Representative Group, or NRG. The NRG meet every month to discuss local mental health issues, develop and run projects and to get updates on projects already running.

Three times a year an "Open Forum" is held. Mental health providers, stakeholders, consumers and families attend these Forums and anyone from the public can also attend. They offer the chance to receive updates on what's going on in the Mental Health sector and to have an open discussion about issues that those present are interested in discussing.

The NRG representatives from the mental health sector for 2009-2010 are: