Mental Health Awareness Week

Each day of MHAW has a theme inspired by one of the five aspects of Te Whare Tapa Whā – a Māori model of health that describes health as a wharenui/meeting house that helps us identify where we need extra support. Take a look at https://www.mhaw.nz/ for more info and ideas.

Each day this week we will share the topic of the day for MHAW.  You may want to use these as a conversation topic with those you come across this week.

Day One:

Recharge with others: Whiria te muka tangata

Taha whānau is the people we care about, who recharge us and make us feel we belong. Whānau isn’t just our immediate relatives. It includes our friends, colleagues, iwi or community – the people who are close to our hearts.

How can you recharge with others today?

Taha whānau is the people we care about, who recharge us and make us feel we belong. Whānau isn’t just our immediate relatives. It includes our friends, colleagues, iwi or community – the people who are close to our hearts.

How can you recharge with others today?

Today’s whakataukī: Ehara taku toa i te toa taki tahi, engari he toa taki tini. My strength is not that of one but that of many.

Equip and Windsor Park Baptist Church have collaborated together on some video tips we will share over the week.

Today we introduce Ben, one of the Equip team.

Day Two:

Wairua

Wairua is about taking notice and appreciating the beauty around us. It’s about rediscovering things that make us feel awe, hope, strength, unity and connection. For some, wairua is faith or a higher power. Sometimes our wairua isn’t strong and we encourage you to think about what wairua means to you and ways to strengthen it. When your wairua is strong, it’s easier to feel good, cope with challenges and build strong whānau relationships.

Today’s whakataukī: He oranga ngākau, he hikinga wairua. When it touches your heart, it lifts your spirit.

How do you take notice and rediscover everyday things around you?

Equip and Windsor Park Baptist Church have collaborated together on some video tips we will share over the week.

Today we introduce Alison, Practice Manager at the Windsor Park Counselling Centre.

Day Three:

Return to nature:  Hono ki te taiao

Whenua is our connection to the land. It’s soil, plants, animals and people – tangata whenua. It’s the earth through which you are connected to your tūpuna/ancestors. Whenua is a place of belonging and it’s comforting that it is never too far away.

Today’s whakataukī: Ko te whenua ko au, ko au ko te whenua. I am the land and the land is me.

Can you have an opportunity to enjoy nature today? Even if only for a few minutes.

Can you support others with this as well?

Equip and Windsor Park Baptist Church have collaborated together on some video tips we will share over the week.

Today we hear from Tamzin, one of the team at Equip.

Day Four:

Refuel your body: Whakamarohi i tō tinana

Taha tinana is about how your body feels and how you care for it. Refuelling your body helps you to feel mentally well. Sometimes your tinana might not be where you’d like it to be and this might be beyond your control. What’s important is that you do what you can to nurture it.

Today’s whakataukī: Mauri tū, Mauri ora. An active soul for your wellbeing.

How you can refuel your body today?

Equip and Windsor Park Baptist Church have collaborated together on some video tips we will share over the week.

Today Jono is sharing with us. 

Day Five:

Refresh your mind: Whāngaia tō hinengaro

Taha hinengaro is your mind, heart, conscience, thoughts and feelings. Just like your physical health, your hinengaro needs to be nurtured. Hinengaro is what you do to stimulate and refresh your mind so you can better cope with the ups and downs of life.

Today’s whakataukī: Ki te wātea te hinengaro, me te kaha rere o te wairua, ka tāea ngā mea katoa. When the mind is free and the spirit is willing, anything is possible.

Can you take a moment to stimulate and refresh your mind today? 

Equip and Windsor Park Baptist Church have collaborated together on some video tips – here is the last video of the week.  Introducing Dan, one of the team at the Windsor Park Counselling Centre.