8 April 2020 | Paenga-whāwhā 2020
During this stressful period, it's been very heartening to see New Zealanders coming together to share their resources and tools to help support one another.
If you're supporting children through this uncertain time, below is a selection of mindfulness resources that may be helpful to you:
- Jase Te Patu, founder of M3 Mindfulness, is offering a free series of videos for children, parents and teachers. The engaging resource uses Māori storytelling and simple movement tools, focusing on breathwork and visualisation to calm the mind.
- The Kiwi authors of the popular children's title, Aroha's way: A children's guide through emotions have produced a free reading for the general public, complete with a lovely soundtrack. Anna Mowat reviewed this book for MHF last year, noting that it is fantastic for talking with our tamariki about how to overcome worries or fears.
- A series of calming resources has been released by Jen Sievers, New Zealand children's author of Just breathe: A mindfulness adventure. These include Mindful moments glitter storm, Mindful moments high five breathing, Mindful moments calming breath, Mini mindful moments, and the Dandelion breath.
Nāku iti nei,
Kim Higginson
Information Management Specialist
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
There is a way through: A guide for people experiencing stress, depression and anxiety
Produced by the Health Promotion Agency in early 2019, this booklet provides advice on how to recognise and seek help for depression and anxiety.
The resource uses the renown Te Whare Tapa Whā model, and is accompanied by soothing Aotearoa-inspired imagery. The layout is well spaced thus it is an easy read - important if one is feeling overwhelmed. Peppered with heartfelt personal quotes and proverbs, the resource gives readers a sense of hope, reinforcing that recovery from depression and anxiety is indeed possible. The section for whānau and friends looking to support loved ones is particularly useful.
Helplines and online support information is also outlined for those looking for a professional to talk to about how they're feeling.
Resource review by Kim Higginson, Information Management Specialist, MHF
New NZ research & resources
Manaaki 20
(2020, March). N.Z.: Te Pūtahitanga, the Whānau Ora commissioning agency for Te Wai Pounamu.
An interactive website to keep whānau connected and informed, and to inspire whānau by sharing stories of what we're doing to keep each other healthy, well and connected.
Trouble in the bubble? #Catchyourself
(2020, 31 March). Auckland: Le Va.
An online campaign aiming to equip families with culturally appropriate knowledge and skills to maintain respectful relationships whilst in isolation. A suite of practical resources and information on how people can manage their frustration or anger and maintain respectful relationships.
Youth19 – Youth vaping factsheet
(2020, March). N.Z.: Youth19.
Youth19 is the first New Zealand survey to explore vaping in secondary school students. They found that vaping was common in schools of all deciles, and that the majority of students experimenting with vaping had never smoked.
Avoidable hospitalisations: Helping our health system get through COVID-19
Thomson, G., Delany, L., &., Wilson, N (2020, March 25). Public Health Expert.
Better resilience for our health system in the face of COVID-19 must include reducing current avoidable pressures that are not COVID-related. Emergency policies should include the reduction of preventable injuries.
Factors facilitating recovery following severe traumatic brain injury: A qualitative study
Downing, M., Hicks, A., Braaf, S., Myles, D., Gabbe, B., Cameron, P., Ameratunga, S., & Ponsford, J. (2020). Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 1-25. doi.10.1080/09602011.2020.1744453
Factors influencing recovery included having a support network, being positive and engaged, and getting good care.
General practitioners and decision-making capacity assessment: The experiences and educational needs of New Zealand general practitioners
Vara, A., Young, G., Douglass, A., Sundram, F., Henning, M., & Cheung, G. (2020). Family Practice, advance online publication. doi.10.1093/fampra/cmaa022
There is a need to develop specific curriculum and training resources for GPs to improve their clinical skills and legal knowledge in decision-making capacity assessments.
Trauma, resilience, and mental health in migrant and non-migrant youth: An international cross-sectional study across six countries
Gatt, J. M., Alexander, R., Emond, A., Foster, K., Hadfield, K., Mason-Jones, A., Reid, S., Theron, L., Ungar, M., Wouldes, T. A., & Wu, Q. (2020). Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, 997. doi.10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00997
This international study tested across six countries, Australia, New Zealand, UK, China, South Africa, and Canada. Overall, migrant adolescents showed greater resilience resources than non-migrants and, although the migrants experienced more traumatic events, the impact of trauma on mental health outcomes was greater in the non-migrants.
Same proof, different pudding: Comparative views of New Zealand child psychiatrists, child psychologists and child psychotherapists regarding a proposed national child and adolescent research network
Thabrew, H., Moor, S., & Eggleston, M. (2020). Australasian Psychiatry: Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, advance online. doi.10.1177/1039856220908178
Despite different areas of interest, there appears to be sufficient combined support from New Zealand child psychiatrists, child psychologists and child psychotherapists to pursue the establishment of a national child and adolescent mental health research network.
New international research & resources
How to keep mentally healthy during uncertain times
Bethune, A., & Roberts, F. (2020, March 25). U.A.: Action for Happiness.
Looking after your mental health is vital, especially when you're stuck at home.
Free guide to living with worry and anxiety amidst global uncertainty
Whalley, M., & Kaur, H. (2020, March). U.K.: Psychology Tools.
Psychology Tools have put together this guide for people to use to manage worry and maintain well-being in these uncertain times.
Body image: We are more than what we look like
(2020, March 17). U.K.: Mental Health Foundation.
The Advisory Group on Health Body Image for Young People have produced this report to understand more about body image and how it can affect young people's mental health.
The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: Rapid review of the evidence
Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., & Rubin, G. J. (2020). Lancet, 395(10227), 912-920. doi.10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30460-8
Most reviewed studies reported negative psychological effects including post-traumatic stress symptoms, confusion, and anger. Stressors included longer quarantine duration, infection fears, frustration, boredom, inadequate supplies, inadequate information, financial loss, and stigma.
What interventions improve college and university students' mental health and wellbeing? A review of review-level evidence
Worsley, J., Pennington, A., & Corcoran, R. (2020, March). U.K.: What Works for Wellbeing, and Liverpool University.
This review of reviews identified a range of interventions for student mental health and well-being, from mindfulness-based interventions to suicide-prevention interventions.
Public stigma toward persons with suicidal thoughts—do age, sex, and medical condition of affected persons matter?
Ludwig, J., Liebherz, S., Dreier, M., Härter, M., &., von dem Knesebeck, O. (2020, March 20). Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, advance online. doi.10.1111/sltb.12629
Stigmatizing attitudes were particularly pronounced when the described person was female and depressive symptoms were presented. Groups that are at special risk of being stigmatized should be considered in antistigma programs.
Workshops, conferences and meetings
We would love to hear what you think about our E-Bulletin so we can keep improving it. Thanks heaps!
Open 9am-4.30pm, Monday to Friday
Phone 09 623 4812
Disclaimer Information provided by the Information Service is not intended to replace qualified medical or professional advice. For diagnosis, treatment and medication, you should consult a health practitioner. We do not assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in published sources, and cannot guarantee the accuracy of these sources. Not all practices/treatments described in the literature will be available in New Zealand.
Copyright © 2020 Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because either you opted in through our website or you ticked a box on a form that you'd like to hear from us.
Our mailing address is:
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
PO Box 10051
Dominion Road
Auckland, 1446
New Zealand
unsubscribe
|