Mental Health Awareness Week starts today, 23-29 September and is run by The Mental Health Foundation. The theme this year is exploring your way to wellbeing – Whāia te ara hauora, Whitiora, which is about discovering the things that make you feel good and doing more of them! When you uplift your personal wellbeing, you uplift the wellbeing of your whānau, communities and Aotearoa as a whole.

The week is also underpinned by Te Whare Tapa Whā, a model that describes health as a wharenui/meeting house with four walls. These walls represent taha wairua/spiritual wellbeing, taha hinengaro/mental and emotional wellbeing, taha tinana/physical wellbeing and taha whānau/family and social wellbeing. Our connection with the whenua/land forms the foundation. 

The five ways to wellbeing are five simple yet proven actions you can use every day to help you find balance, build resilience and boost your wellbeing.

Connect / Me whakawhanaunga - Talk and listen, be there, feel connected

Keep learning / Me ako tonu - Embrace new experiences, see opportunities, surprise yourself

Take notice / Me aro tonu - Remember the simple things that give you joy

Be active / Me kori tonu - Do what you can, enjoy what you do, move your mood

Give / Tukua - Your time, your words, your presence

Show your support

• Update your email signature with a Mental Health Awareness Week one, available in either English or Te Reo Māori.
• Download posters, screensavers, the explore guide and a wellbeing plan.

• Get involve with some of the activities and competitions on offer, including the Mental Health Awareness Week Wellbeing Photo Challenge, Workplace Challenge and Colouring Competition.
• Go to some of the events, including the Reading in Mind evening with Lorelei Mason, wellbeing walks, Lunchtime Greenpodchat Sessions and much more.