Tuesday 15 August 2023.
There’s one month to go until Mental Health Awareness Week (18 – 24 September). This year’s theme is Five Ways, Five Days. We’re asking New Zealanders to use the Five Ways to Wellbeing Take Notice, Give, Be Active, Connect, and Keep Learning to improve their wellbeing throughout the week. These simple actions are backed by evidence and can be easily incorporated into anyone’s life, at any time.
Shaun Robinson, Mental Health Foundation chief executive says: “Life has been a rollercoaster for us all lately. Over the last few years, we’ve faced uncertainty, unfamiliarity, and hardships that have left us with mixed emotions. That's why we're focusing on the Five Ways to Wellbeing this Mental Health Awareness Week, to give us a set of simple, proven actions that can boost our mental health when we need it.
“We know that one in five of us will experience mental illness this year. Wellbeing isn’t just for people who have not experienced mental illness – it’s for everyone. I live with bipolar disorder, and find the Five Ways to Wellbeing help me when I’m not feeling my best,” Mr Robinson says.
Free MHAW resources and packs are now available to order and download. The resources are designed to help you learn about and put the Five Ways into practice in your workplace, school, or home. Packs include Five Ways fold-out accordion resources, poster sets, a Five Ways to Wellbeing bookmark, and a tear-off poster that prompts you to put the Five Ways into action.
As well as our printed resources, we have plenty more free resources available to download, like our MHAW Guide, our 'How to have a safe and supportive kōrero' guidelines, or our Five Ways PowerPoint quiz and e-signatures to help you spread the word and encourage others to get involved in the week. Get in quick, as postal orders close on 8 September.
Want to learn more? Sign up to receive regular updates about MHAW in the lead-up to the week. It’s a great way to bring MHAW to life and encourage others to join in. If you are hosting an event this MHAW, be sure to list it on our What’s On calendar. Visit mhaw.nz for more information.
ENDS.
For further information, or for interview requests about MHAW contact:
Mark Wilson
Team Lead, Media Relations
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
Cell: 021 998 949
Email: mark.wilson@mentalhealth.org.nz