Several organisations supporting Otago and Southland families affected by mental illness are joining forces in response to a Southern District Health Board funding cut.
Able Charitable Trust chairwoman Stephanie Pettigrew said the non-profit organisation was rebranding after merging the seven contracts of four Supporting Families branches - Otago, Southland, Central Otago and Waitaki - into a single entity, Able Southern Family Support.
The trust became operational after a funding contract between the board and trust took effect on Monday.
The trust was formed to merge the services after the board announced a 5% funding cut across the seven contracts.
''That's what prompted the decision to merge and hopefully make savings by working better as a single entity across the region.''
The new entity had four branches - Able Dunedin in Dunedin, Able Southland in Invercargill, Able Central Lakes in Alexandra and Able Waitaki in Oamaru.
The services provided would remain the same.
The staff numbers would remain the same but had been ''equalised'' more, with staff being spread across the South to better meet demand.
The change would result in more people in the South being able to access the service.
''Now, we are one organisation across the whole of Otago and Southland, to be able to make sure those geographical and service gaps are met more effectively.''
The merger was ''positive'' for the organisation, Mrs Pettigrew said.
''As a merged entity, there is a lot of room for us to grow, develop and improve the services ... and as a bigger organisation we'll have scope to develop other services that aren't currently being met.''
