The Cook Islands mental health organisation, Te Kainga O Pa Taunga, yesterday celebrated 20 years of its service to the Cook Islands.

It was also a celebration of its key founder, Mereana Taikoko, who, since 1998, has been fighting for the recognition of mental health and its importance.

“We set this up as an NGO in 2004 and it has been a long and hard journey but now, I think we have reached 20 years but didn’t seem like that although we have achieved a lot over the years,” Taikoko told Cook Islands News.

“I feel very relieved and happy to have reached these many years to serve our people through mental health and we hope for the betterment of our organisation and nothing else, for the future of Cook Islands.”

The celebration was held at Te Kainga O Pa Taunga Hall in Panama.

The NGO had established a second centre in Aitutaki and had sent people to the outer islands to run a programme called “Cycle Social Rehabilitation”. This programme provided caregivers looking after the elderly and the sick at home a day’s break.

Te Kainga O Pa Taunga offers psychosocial rehabilitation, mental health awareness and education, an alcohol and drugs support group, counselling and day service/respite care.