MHAW is run annually by the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand and has been since 1993. MHAW is endorsed by the World Federation for Mental Health and is marked in over 150 countries at different times of the year. 

This year’s theme is take time to kōrero/mā te kōrero, ka ora – a little chat can go a long way.

This week is all about connecting with the people in our lives and creating space for conversations about mental health and wellbeing. Whether it’s checking in with a mate, having a kōrero over some kai or saying hello to a stranger, a little chat can go a long way.

#MHAWNZ

Guiding whakataukī for Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

Whakataukī are proverbs and poetic forms of te reo Māori, which are used in a range of contexts in te ao Māori such as whaikōrero/formal speeches to support the speaker in making a point and in aligning the present with the wisdom of tīpuna/tūpuna/ancestors.

Whakataukī are metaphors that support critical thinking by allowing the receiver of the whakataukī to consider another way of thinking from a worldview other than their own.

An amazing holistic health model – Te Whare Tapa Whā

TE WHARE TAPA WHĀ, is a model designed by leading Māori Health Advocate Sir Mason Durie in 1984. The model describes health and wellbeing as a wharenui (meeting house) with four walls. These walls represent:
– taha tinana (physical wellbeing)
– taha hinengaro (mental wellbeing)
– taha wairua (spiritual wellbeing)
– taha whānau (family wellbeing)

With 4 walls, the wharenui (meeting house) is a symbol of these 4 dimensions. The wharenui’s connection with the whenua (land) forms the foundation for the other 4 dimensions. When all these things are in balance, we thrive. When one or more of these is out of balance, our wellbeing is impacted. 

By nurturing and strengthening all 5 dimensions, you support your health and wellbeing, as well as the health and wellbeing of your whānau.
If something in your life is challenging the wellbeing of one wall or dimension, you can draw on the foundation and other walls until you can strengthen that wall again.
And to build resilience for the tough times, you can explore your way to wellbeing by choosing one small step at a time to strengthen one of your dimensions.

Here are some ideas how to strengthen your dimensions.

Five Ways to Wellbeing

The concept of ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ was created as a result of the New Economics Foundation’s (NEF) Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing research report. NEF conducted a review of the most up-to-date evidence and found that building five actions into day to day lives is important for the wellbeing of individuals, families, communities and organisations. They can be used every day to help find balance, build resilience and boost wellbeing.

Maramataka as a tool for mental health

The MARAMATAKA is the Māori lunar calendar, and is the traditional Māori way by which time is marked. ‘Maramataka’ translates as ‘moon rotating’. 

The Māori calendar begins in Pipiri (June/July) with the reappearance of the Matariki star cluster signalling the New Year. Most iwi list 12 months in the lunar year. Each month also had its own name, which sometimes varied between tribes.

A typical lunar month cycle lasts for 29.53 days. Each night carries a name according to the Maramataka and over time each day/night was accompanied by information guiding fishing, gardening, and other activities in the natural world. It also provides some information about phases of low and high energy. 

Maramataka can be a good and important healing tool for mental health as it brings a focus on nature. As we become more in tune with the environment and everything around us, we also become more in tuned with our feelings and listening.

We will share this resouces from All Right? with you today. Here you have an online maramataka where you can just look up information each day according to the maramataka. You can also get a maramataka calendar and explore with your tamariki and rangatahi each night/day together. 

We want encourage you to make your own observations and take note of various feelings and emotions – and then maybe plan around these experiences.

Other amazing Aoteaora Mental Health campaigns

1. In My Bubble – Let your kids become Mini Yogis! 

Mindfulness at home for kids, from the safety and comfort of their bubble. Thanks so much Yo Yoga NZ for this amazing, healing, nourishing opportunity for our tamariki and rangatahi.

‘In these unpredictable and uncertain times, it is vitally important to find ways to support our children with managing their mental health. In My Bubble was conceived to offer families tools to engage in effective co-regulation strategies to help children manage big emotions as and when they arise, so that in time, they can develop coping strategies to navigate life’s challenges as they grow.
​In my Bubble focuses on the positive, what we can do rather than what we have to give up by staying at home, offering mindfulness through movement, breath, relaxation and reflection.’

2. Barnardos 0800 What’s Up launched a nation-wide, two-month campaign in partnership with the MediaWorks Foundation and OfficeMax to help reach children and young people who need to talk. We know that New Zealand is going through a mental health crisis and that children and young people are struggling, with long waits to access mental health services. 

Barnardos 0800 What’s Up is the only free helpline and webchat service for tamariki and rangatahi aged 5-19 in Aotearoa.

0800 What’s Up is available seven days a week, every week of the year for tamariki and rangatahi to talk with a trained counsellor about anything at all, big or small. All calls to 0800 What’s Up are free. 

Thanks 0800 What’s Up so much for this great mahi!

3. Are you searching for some good books for your tamariki or rangatahi? Not knowing how to address different challenges, especially mental health related problems. Maybe you find here some inspiration.

Resources:
https://www.mhaw.nz
https://mentalhealth.org.nz/five-ways-to-wellbeing
https://www.healthnavigator.org.nz/healthy-living/t/te-whare-tapa-whā-and-wellbeing/
https://www.peptalkmedia.com/blog1/te-whare-tapa-wha
https://teara.govt.nz/en/maramataka-the-lunar-calendar/page-3
https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/sites/default/files/maramataka-resource-oct2018-update.pdf
https://www.allright.org.nz/tools/maramataka
https://www.yoyoganz.com/kidsbubble
https://whatsup.co.nz