Professional support for post Covid stress at cafe

The lockdowns were a tough and lonely time for many of us, in some cases stoking mental health or addiction issues. In increasing numbers people are heading to a little Auckland cafe over the weekend where they're able to find professional support or just a friendly ear. One year since the Haven programme started operating out of Merge Cafe on Karangahape Rd, staff say they're seeing the effects of Covid-19 spiking in visitors, including about 1 in 5 under the influence of synthetic drugs. Our reporter Katie Todd spoke to the programme lead Rachel Scaife and peer support worker Darrell Wilson.