Nurses at Health NZ public hospitals and health services plan to strike from 7am to 11pm on both Tuesday 2 September and Thursday 4 September. Emergency departments will be open for emergencies only.
GPs, after-hours and urgent care clinics, and other community health providers are not affected by the strikes and will continue to operate as normal.
Industrial action — Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Oraexternal link
Altered High Youth Service is for young people aged from 13 to 20 and their whānau with concerns about their own, or someone else’s alcohol or drug use.
You can contact Altered High by:
freephone 0800 845 1818external link — ask for the youth team
phone or text 027 462 4580external link
email alteredhigh@waitematadhb.govt.nzexternal link
We are available to talk to between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
One of our youth clinicians will take your call, explain our service and answer questions, discuss your needs and take a referral if appropriate.
We are keen to know what rangatahi and their whānau think of the service we provide. If you have had contact with us recently, let us know how you found it — good, bad or not sure.
Select the link or scan the QR code to go to our feedback form.
The feedback that you provide is anonymous.
Altered High feedbackexternal link
Altered High is located at:
Level 2
409 New North Road
Kingsland
Auckland 1021
We are also available:
9am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday.
We see rangatahi who have concerns about their use of alcohol, drugs, or both. We also support rangatahi affected by a parent's or other whānau member's use of substances — the young person may or may not use substances themselves. We hold a whānau inclusive approach with the rangatahi who engage with us whenever possible.
We engage with rangatahi with information and support to help them make a change or a decision about what to do, to stop or cut down, and if they are continuing to use to reduce the harms associated with using substances. Some also experience mood or mental health challenges alongside their use of substances.
We are a mobile community service covering the wider Auckland region so travel to meet with rangatahi where they are, in an environment most suitable for them such as their education setting, rooms in community settings, home. We also engage with rangatahi by video-call and phone sessions.
We have a Rainbow-focused clinician available and we liaise with other agencies who are supporting rangatahi.
We also offer an evening whānau group (on Zoom) for whānau and caregivers concerned about or affected by their rangatahi use of substances, whether the rangatahi is engaged with us or not, with individual support where appropriate.
We have downloadable information about our services and drug facts on the Health NZ website.
Community alcohol and drug service (CADS) resources — Health NZexternal link
'Taking a break' group is our Alcohol and drug brief intervention group. It is for rangatahi aged 15 to 19 who are using drugs and alcohol and who:
During the group we will:
If you would like to attend, book with your counsellor or call duty to discuss a referral.
The whānau group is for people who are concerned about the alcohol or other drug use of a rangatahi and would like information, advice or support. The group provides:
The Managing mood group is for rangatahi aged between 16 and 19 who would like to learn more about emotions and strategies to help manage them.
At the group you will:
Feedback from rangatahi includes that they learnt:
Anyone can refer to Altered High but it is preferable that rangatahi refer themselves.
The rangatahi must consent to and be involved in the referral process.
Call us between 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday on either:
An Altered High worker will take your call, explain more about the service and answer any questions you have.
If you have not got any credit on your phone you can text us on 027 462 4580external link, and we will call or text you back.
Complete our online referral form.
Youth referral to CADSexternal link
Complete our online referral form.
Youth referral to CADSexternal link
Complete an Altered High referral form and email it back to us at alteredhigh@waitematadhb.govt.nzexternal link
Altered High referral forms are found on our Auckland Mental health and addictions page.
Mental health and addiction services — Aucklandexternal link
For primary care services with practice management systems use 'E-referrals – Addiction Services'. Mark your referral clearly for the attention of Altered High youth service and include the following information.
If you are contacting us on behalf of a rangatahi, make sure that you have discussed this with them and they agree. Complete as much contact information as possible.
Call us between 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday on either:
Altered High is not able to provide after hours crisis services. If you need emergency mental health assistance call 0800 800 717external link
You can contact us using our contact form.
Based on the information from the referral you will be allocated an Altered High clinician.
Your clinician will ring you or your whānau, to introduce themselves and organise a time to meet.
Your clinician will then meet with you in a place convenient for you. They will answer any questions you might have about Altered High and then ask you some questions — an assessment. This is to find out about you, work out what your strengths and current difficulties are, and begin to work out a plan about how to help you.
Some of the ways they might help include:
