October newsletter from the Mental Health Foundation
Whiringa-ā-nuku 2019
October 2019
Kia ora Friend,
This month we welcome the brilliant white puawananga/clematis blossom as a messenger that matiti hana, the second phase of summer is approaching. The change of season always offers us the opportunity to reflect on the past and look forward to the future.
So why not take a moment this month to notice of the signs of summer appearing in nature.
In this edition of In Touch you will read about about those working to normalise the conversation around mental distress in our Pasifika communities, the response to governments new suicide prevention strategy and a mindfulness activity you can do anytime, anywhere to recharge!
Nāku iti nei,
Erin and the team at the Mental Health Foundation
P.S. Thank you to all the thousands who participated in Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) this year. We've included some highlights below so make sure you read on!
New Zealand's silent Pasifika mental health crisis
"What do you do if your culture treats mental illness like a curse?"
"Bury it deep."
These are the opening lines of Indira Stewart's radio and online series Together Alone that reports on why so many Pasifika live with mental distress - and why so few seek help.
With the help of 2017 Mental Health Media Grant Indira interviewed people within the Pasifika community, including those who have experienced mental distress, religious leaders and medical professionals to find out why prejudice exists and how to challenge it.
Together Alone tells the stories of those who have bravely fought prejudice and encourage others to do the same.
Do you have a creative project that might help break prejudice? Apply for up to $10,000 to bring your idea to life. 2019 Media Grant or Pūtea Pāpāho applications are due 5pm, Friday 11 October.
New Zealand's new suicide prevention strategy and action plan
In September the government released their new suicide prevention strategy and action plan - Every Life Matters He Tapu te Oranga o ia tangata (2019 - 2024).
The Mental Health Foundation had provided feedback to the draft strategy earlier in the year and were encouraged by the strategy's focus on developing solutions tailored to Aotearoa's diverse communities instead of trying a one-size fits all model.
The Foundation is extremely supportive of the establishment of the new Suicide Prevention Office, but shared in the disappointment that no specific Māori suicide prevention strategy was adopted acknowledging that Māori communities bear a disproportionate burden of suicide.
"We understand why it's taken so long for this new strategy to be released but we join most of New Zealand in feeling huge relief that it's out there now," MHF chief executive Shaun Robinson says.
Read MHF's full statement.
Take 5 minutes to breathe
It's a fact. We all breathe. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But, did you know that practising simple mindful breathing has many health benefits including reducing stress and anxiety?
Mindful breathing involves taking deliberately longer breaths to calm the nervous system and clear the brain of ruminating thoughts or worries.
The Mental Health Foundation teamed up with BRTHE studios to create a short video.
Put it on in the comfort of your home, or take it into your workplace or school and share the joy of breathing!
Thank you to everyone who took part in Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW). Almost 7,000 New Zealanders registered for updates, making this our biggest MHAW ever. Seeing Kiwis explore their way to wellbeing gave our own wellbeing a huge boost!
Now that MHAW has finished, we'd appreciate it if you filled in our MHAW evaluation survey Tell us what you thought about the theme, activities, resources and more.
Even if you didn't participate this year, we still would appreciate your feedback to help us improve the campaign. Take our survey and be in to win a $250 Countdown supermarket voucher!
Trekking for mental health
Welcome home to our Inca Trail team who trekked for 5 days to reach Machu Picchu in the name of mental health!
Together they raised an incredible $100,000 to help support our resource and information service which responds to thousands of calls and emails each year from people looking for help for themselves or a loved one.
We have just launched our latest fundraising challenge - an 11 day trip to Morocco to climb North Africa's highest mountain, Mount Toubkal. The trek is bring organising by Huma Charity Challenge and participants pay their own travel and costs, and have a fundraising target of $3,000 to reach.
Find out more about trekking for mental health
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