Your monthly update from the Mental Health Foundation
Huitanguru / February 2020
Kia ora Friend,
Our first edition of In Touch in 2020 marks the ninth month of the Māori year – Huitanguru, also known as Pēpuere. The summer star of Rūhī is above us and seed pods are bursting open to fall upon the whenua.
As we move towards Rākanui (full moon) on Sunday 9 February this week it is a valuable time to come together as whānau and share ideas, insights and gratitude.
The high energy Tangaroa period (when the moon is waning) begins on Monday 17 February and this the perfect time to get outside and visit your favourite beach, river or lake to connect with the water around you.
Wishing you and your whānau all the best for these last weeks of summer. Soak it up and enjoy!
Nāku iti nei,
Erin and the team at the Mental Health Foundation
P.S. Gōng xǐ fā cái!
The New Moon of Whiro on Sunday 26 January was the beginning of the Chinese New Year. The celebrations continue into February and are a great time to gather together, reflect over the past year, look forward to the new, and eat! Foods to eat are long noodles (for longevity – do not cut!), spring rolls, egg rolls, dumplings and mandarins (for wealth).
You can get from darkness to the other side
It was an honour to close the 2019 #RadNotBad series with my own story of living with bipolar disorder and navigating the mental health system.
My journey started at age 15 when I was treated by my GP and prescribed Prozac. By my early 20's I had experienced my first manic episode.
Myths surrounding mental distress prevented me from accepting my diagnosis until I was 28 when I finally started on the road to recovery.
We're excited the #RadNotBad series will continue in 2020, so stay posted.
Read more
Recent submission to the Ministry of Health
Last month the MHF together with Like Minds Like Mine, provided a submission to government on updating the national guidelines on compulsory treatment.
This update is an opportunity to move towards a more human rights-based where coercion is used as a last option and temporarily.
In the submission we encourage the use of supported decision-making with the assistance of peer support workers, the removal of discrimination and prejudice, good consultation practises with whānau, and considering other treatment options like talk therapy and rongoa Māori.
Read more
Taking care of yourself after a natural disaster
Sometimes the world seems like a scary place, so try to remember it's normal and human to feel deeply affected and overwhelmed by recent events.
Looking after your wellbeing during these times is essential, as the old adage goes "put on your own oxygen mask before helping others."
Different things work for different people, that's why we've put together a list on ways you can take care of yourself.
Read more
Remembering Te Tiriti o Waitangi every day
On February 6th, 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the British Crown and Māori chiefs.
The MHF acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the foundation document of Aotearoa/New Zealand and is committed to Māori as our priority population.
The Foundation strongly supports the reduction of inequities in Aotearoa and works towards increased Māori driven mental wellbeing promotion action and the long term improvement in mental health and wellbeing outcomes for Māori.
Pink Shirt Day - 22 May 2020
The Pink Shirt Day team are working hard behind the scenes to bring to life our biggest, boldest Pink Shirt Day yet. We'd love for you to join us on Friday 22 May 2020 to Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora – Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying!
Pink Shirt Day began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying, after a peer was bullied for wearing a pink shirt. In Aotearoa, Pink Shirt Day aims to create schools, workplaces, communities and whānau where all people feel safe, valued and respected.
In the coming weeks we'll have toolkits, event packs, official pink tees, and other resources available for you to order and download. If you'd like to celebrate Pink Shirt Day 2020, make sure to register for updates now. You can follow the Pink Shirt Day action on social media too – find us at @pinkshirtdaynz and use the hashtag #PinkShirtDayNZ.
Every month we receive support from generous fundraisers, donors and workplaces who champion the mental health cause. We thank you ALL. This month we would like to acknowledge:
- Sir John Logan Campbell Residuary Estate for helping print copies of Takatāpui: Part of the Whānau for Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Tairāwhiti.
- Electronic Arts (EA) for their generous payroll giving contributions.
- Phill Clark, Steve Dunstan and the Dizengoff team for serving much needed coffee to many Aucklanders on Christmas Day and donating the takings to the Mental Health Foundation.
- The unstoppable Mal Law who climbed over one million feet (the equivalent climbing Everest from Base Camp more than 87 times!) to raise awareness and funds for mental health.
Want to know more about work the Mental Health Foundation is involved in?
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Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand | PO Box 10051 | Dominion Road | Auckland 1446 | New Zealand
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