Our Approach

Following a near-fatal overdose while attempting to withdraw from methamphetamines, Joan^* thanked the National Poisons Centre (NPC) staff and Whangarei ED and intensive care teams for saving her life.
Thanks to the NPC advice and intensive care treatment, Joan recovered and a week after her overdose and treatment, she reported feeling in 'relatively good spirits and really positive about the future'.,

National Poisons Centre Dr Adam Pomerleau commented that Joan was 'about as sick as someone can be after this kind of poisoning and it really was a heroic effort by the treating team (aided by some impactful advice from NPC), had they not done such a good job this could easily have been a fatal outcome'.

69-year-old Harbir^*, describing himself as an illiterate man living alone with nobody around him, said he was really happy that someone was able to speak with him in his own language.

'You guys really helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel, and now I’ve got two steady jobs while still going to school, and I’ve started volunteering to help give back to the community that raised me. It’s all thanks to the 1737 service - I’ve started focusing more on staying away from all the negativity that kept me down. If it wasn’t for you guys, I wouldn’t still be here now. Thank you so, so much, I can’t express my gratitude through words, but please keep helping the people out there like me because you fixed it all when no one else could.'

Rachel^* told us how fabulous the service is for culturally appropriate counselling support, for easy access and flexibility. She has been recommending the service to others.

Kate^* was very impressed with the care she received over the phone from the EMHR nurse. From the triage document it is also clear that the nurse went above and beyond, including calling Kate back three times when they were cut off. She also spent quite some time talking with her, giving her some very helpful ideas.

Toni^* was very impressed with the “absolutely amazing 24-hour service”, especially the quick pick up, given it was a Friday night and a busy time. She appreciated how the counsellor listened without interruption, with “just a few concise reflections on my rambles”.

The counsellor helped her realise that she is a balanced person and that living well after such an experience is possible.

One of the anti-smoking videos made Peter^* cry 'the hardest that I have ever cried in years'. The video triggered memories of his cat being put down after developing lung cancer. Peter wrote: 'You managed to make the most emotional anti-smoking video I’ve ever seen, it’s raw and it’s real. Thank you so much for a much-needed release. I was already a week into not smoking and that was enough to push me over the edge and completely disregard my cravings for another cigarette. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much'.

Sylvie^* let us know that her husband was better able to understand what she’d been going through once she showed him the text conversation she’d had with the counsellor. Sylvie believes this helped save her marriage