Mental Health Nurse
A Mental Health nurse works in a holistic way in collaboration with people who have mental health issues, their families and other health professionals. Their focus is on recovery as defined by the individual. They work in a variety of settings including inpatient settings occupational health, and the community. The Nursing Council of New Zealand is the regulatory authority for nurses in New Zealand and many mental health nurses belong to Te Ao Maramatanga: The College of Mental Health Nurses. Nurses hold a basic Bachelors level qualification to register but many undertake post graduate qualifications in their area of speciality. The education of nurses is comprehensive and holistic and includes health, illness and pharmacological consideration. Nurses may qualify as Nurse prescribers or as independent Nurse Practitioners.
Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapists hold a Bachelors level qualification with a focus on assisting, and promoting de activities for you to help regain lost abilities and develop new living skills.
NOTE: All of the above groups have arrangements whereby their patients/clients have recourse to a complaints system. Each of them is responsible for their practice as defined by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (the Act) which provides a framework for the regulation of health practitioners in order to protect the public where there is a risk of harm from professional practice. Not all health professions are regulated under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (the Act). Not being regulated under the Act does not imply that a profession lacks professional standards.
Counsellors
Counsellors are also trained by various institutions. There is considerable variation in the types of treatment with a concentration on relational and factual problems. The NZ Association of counsellors is the parent body and sets ethical standards. Counsellors may specialise with a specific focus for example Grief Counselling, others may be much more general.