Corinder Taylor says the service can provide at least double the support it could in the past Photo: RNZ / Karen Brown
Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust will be able offer more services when it moves into a larger building next week.
The charity, which offers non-clinical mental health support services, has experienced a 62 percent increase in demand for peer support in past nine months.
Co-general manager Corinda Taylor said their previous premises was unable to support that need.
"We can provide double - if not more - the amount of services that we provided in the past," she said.
"We've got four separate rooms where we can now meet with people privately."
The new Hope Centre was also located close to Dunedin Hospital.
For the past year, the Hope Centre had also offered a crisis cafe on Thursdays until 9pm and there were plans to expand that service.
"Ultimately our goal would be to operate 24/7 but we've got severe funding restrictions because we don't get funding from the government," Taylor said.
"We literally survive on donations from the public, and we know there's a huge demand for the services we provide. We hear this daily from people who tell us about the long waiting lists, where they perhaps don't get the care they need in that moment - possibly after an attempt on their life. They need ongoing holistic support around them in the community and that's what we can provide for them.
"So if we were to open our crisis cafe doors for longer hours we can support people in a non-clinical environment. We are friendly, welcoming, we offer kai and a cup of tea and we listen to people. We give them the time in their need of crisis."
Co-general manager Clare Curran agreed.
"We know there is more demand for a safe, supportive space as an alternative to the Emergency Psychiatric Service (EPS) for people suffering a crisis.
"We now have the space to provide more support. When our funding allows, we would like to provide a crisis service on more nights of the week."
The public was invited to the opening of the new Hope Centre|Te Whare Tūmanako at 63 Hanover Street on Wednesday 15 February at 11am.
The Life Matters Suicide Prevention Trust and the subsequent setting up of the Hope Centre in 2018 was born out of tragedy when Corinda's son Ross took his own life in 2013, aged only 20.
"It is the connections with others with similar experiences that help us see the light again. When you share about your own experiences others also open up," Taylor said.
Where to get help:
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What's Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
