A new collaboration between BeingWell and ‘Here to help u’ is helping bridge the gap for people who need wellbeing support but aren’t currently connected to a general practice. The partnership means a Health Coach is now available two days a week to offer free support to anyone accessing ‘Here to help u’ services.
“This is about meeting people where they are,” says Mollie Clothier, Health Coach Team Lead at BeingWell. “We know many people fall through the cracks because they’re not enrolled with a GP or don’t know how to ask for help. This partnership allows us to reach those individuals directly, in a safe and trusted community setting.”
BeingWell Health Coaches offer practical, confidential, and non-judgemental support to help people navigate life’s challenges and set meaningful health goals at their own pace. They can help with stress, parenting, housing pressure, lifestyle change, or connecting with other services. Sessions are flexible to meet patient needs and can be held in-person, by phone or online.
Making support easy to reach
“Many of the people we work with are going through a tough time and may not be linked in with other services,” says Amanda Gabb, Team Lead at ‘Here to help u’ Tauranga. “This partnership removes barriers. We can connect them straight to someone who listens and walks alongside them. It’s about creating a safe space to kōrero and a positive pathway forward.”
Health Coaches are part of the WBOP PHO BeingWell team and, alongside Health Improvement Practitioners (HIPs), Social Workers and Counsellors, they provide free support in most general practices across the region. While this new partnership extends access through a community setting, it also helps build a bridge for people who may feel disconnected from regular care.
“We’re committed to making wellbeing support easy to reach, wherever people are on their health journey,” says Sarah Stevenson, General Manager of Community Services at WBOP PHO. “This partnership is one way we can meet people early and offer care that feels safe, local and relevant. And in doing so, we hope to support a positive reconnection with general practice when the time is right.”
How to access the service
Accessing BeingWell through Here to Help U is simple and follows the same process as via general practices. People can fill out the online self-referral form at wboppho.org.nz/free-mental-health-services and select ‘Not Enrolled’ under ‘What GP are you enrolled with?’ and they will be connected to the ‘Here to help u”. They can also connect directly with the Here to Help U team (www.heretohelpu.nz or 0800 568 273). As usual, the service doesn’t require a doctor’s appointment.
About 'Here to help u'
'Here to help u' is a local connector service that helps individuals and whānau access social, housing, financial, and wellbeing support quickly and safely. It plays a vital role in linking whānau to the help they need, when and how they need it. Anyone can access support by simply visiting www.heretohelpu.nz and submit an online help request or by calling 0800 568 273 and leave a message.
About BeingWell
BeingWell is the new name for the WBOP PHO’s primary mental health team, bringing Coordinated Primary Options (CPO) and Integrated Primary Mental Health and Addictions (IPMHA) services together. Available through general practices in the Western and Eastern Bay of Plenty, as well as local community settings, it provides free support from Health Improvement Practitioners (HIPs), Health Coaches and funded referral pathways to social workers or counsellors.
