Tuesday marked the 30th anniversary of the service and staff held a morning tea and lunch on Wednesday to mark the occasion, following a progressive '80s themed dinner last Friday.
Occupational therapist Anne Gosnell, who has worked with the team for 20 years, sorted two large tin boxes that would be hidden with memories of the last 30 years.
Items such as photos and reports were included - even a copy of the Otago Daily Times.
"It's because we've gathered a lot of photos and documents . . . we wanted to keep it in one place for the future," she said.
The Clyde team, which started with four, had grown to 26 full-time equivalent staff plus visiting specialists.
The organisation started life as the Central Otago Family Health Counselling Team in 1988 - it did not include the word "mental".
Ms Gosnell explained why the change was made.
"In the early '90s, people were talking a lot about destigmatising mental health and we said `why don't we just call it what it is?'.
"We had a lot of people ringing up for family health advice like contraception and things that weren't really our bag."
About three years ago, the Central Otago branch combined with the Queenstown team to become the Central Lakes Community Mental Health team.
The Clyde team still covers a vast area - Makarora, Wanaka, the entire Central Otago district, even past Ranfurly to Sutton and down to Raes Junction.
Ms Gosnell said it was not the money, conditions or holidays that kept her in the role - it was the people - her team, her clients and their families.
"We recently got an email from a bloke who just wanted to say how well he was doing ... I think making that difference is such a huge buzz."
Relieving unit manager Rosemary Diehl agreed.
"Seeing them at the worst times in their life and bumping into them down the main street, they stop and talk to you and tell you what a difference that you've made ... they're living good, fulfilled, happy lives."
The team hoped to see the service grow and let the next generation of staff find the hidden treasures in the time capsule.
As for changes and improvements for mental health services nationwide, the team encouraged people to submit to the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction which would close on June 5.
