DCM's Mental Health Nurse Making A Difference

DCM’s first mental health nurse, Natalie, is motivated by the desire to make a difference. “I realised my purpose in life is to help people,” she says. This led her to counselling and, eventually, to nursing, where she felt she could make the biggest impact.

Her role at DCM is as varied as it is important. Natalie carries out mental health assessments, assists with medication management, and helps whānau connect with other services. “Many of our whānau have experienced childhood trauma and were born into situations they didn’t ask for,” she explains. Trauma often leads to mental health challenges and substance use, creating a difficult cycle.

For Natalie, education is key to reducing stigma. “I would just love it if people took the time if they walked past someone in the street. Don't just instantly put them in a box in your mind. Go home and research how someone could become a rough sleeper. Learn about how trauma can affect someone's decision-making and put them in a position that they didn’t ask for."

Her passion for her work is clear, as is her belief in DCM’s whānau. “They are human beings who’ve gone through struggles, but that doesn’t define who they are. I love seeing the beautiful qualities they sometimes don’t even know they have. I call them ‘juicy nuggets,’ and they’re something to celebrate.”