True Colours – Honouring the Mother

Update:

To our Tauranga Community

I hope this message finds you well. We are writing to inform you about a significant development at True Colours Honouring the Mother, as we enter a transition period following six years of dedicated service to our community.

After completing my Social Work studies this year, I am excited to announce that I will be taking on a role within the Maternal Mental Health Team (PIMHS) at Te Whatu Ora starting in January. In light of this, we have made the decision to temporarily suspend our perinatal mental health support services for a period of three months, from January to March 2024.

This decision was not made lightly, recognising the potential impact on those who rely on our services. However, it is necessary to take this time to recruit new staff, secure funding, and restructure our organisation to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality and effective support.

Having served māmā, pēpi, and whānau in the Bay of Plenty for six years, True Colours Honouring the Mother remains a crucial pillar of support for māmā, being the sole Perinatal Mental Health Support Group in the area. We are fully committed to the well-being of our clients and are actively working to secure funding, especially in light of the cuts we experienced earlier this year (see 2023 Interview above).

During this hiatus, we encourage you to seek support from alternative sources such as PHO counselling and HiPs practitioners for mental well-being. For general community support Mum4mums or a new postnatal support group held at The Village in Fraser Street. In the meantime, we will not be accepting any more referrals until April 2024. Rest assured, I will announce when we are back up and running.

We sincerely appreciate your understanding and support during this period of transition. Wishing you a wonderful Summer and Christmas period surrounded by friends and loved ones.

Ngā mihi nui

Michelle Hall
CEO/ Social Worker
December 2023

At True Colours – Honouring the Mother, we honour the path of parenthood: embracing, educating, and empowering māmā since 2018.

We understand the pressures of modern parenting and offer a sanctuary for those facing perinatal challenges like postnatal depression, anxiety, OCD, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

We offer free monthly support groups, both in-person in Tauranga (food and childcare provided) and online, providing a compassionate space for māmā to express themselves openly, validating their emotions, and supporting them to rediscover the joy of parenting. Through shared experiences, mothers form relationships that reinforce their well-being journey within a community that learns from each other.

With True Colours, you gain more than support; you gain a family that sees, hears, and values you, empowering you to navigate parenthood with strength, aroha, and joy.

“I highly recommend attending True Colours groups we had a rough few years especially with PND having this support group monthly is an absolute lifesaver. It's a safe place to listen share and get support with amazing group of women all with their own journeys. Michelle is absolutely outstanding with all the work she has done to create this much needed service and she does an incredible job making such a difference in many women's lives. Thank you Michelle for everything you do” - Amee