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Whānau, Individuals, Communities

We've sold out of our 2023 resource packs, but we've got loads of practical resources that you can download and print to get your community or hapori involved this Mental Health Awareness Week.

Make sure you sign up for our eDMs, you'll be the first to hear about competitions, activities and more to help you spread the word, activate the Five Ways, and get involved in the week - stay tuned! 

Be sure to visit our Helpful Resources page for further conversation starters, tips and info on mental health and wellbeing.

MHAW x Groov webinar partnership 🤝 

We partnered with our friends at Groov to deliver two live webinars during Mental Health Awareness Week.

Webinar one:

The Five Ways to Wellbeing: Fostering a productive & thriving workplace culture

An uplifting and informative live kōrero, as Shaun Robinson (CE, Mental Health Foundation), Charlotte Ward (Chief People Officer, Kiwibank) and Nathan Price (Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager, New Zealand Rugby), catch up with Dr Fiona Crichton to talk about the importance of mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, and how this helps us show up at work as our best selves. Watch the recording here.

 

Webinar two:

The Five Ways to feeling good and functioning better

A MHAW-themed live kōrero with Jase Te Patu (Te Ao Māori mental health advocate and mindfulness master) and Dr Fiona Crichton (VP Behavioural Science, Groov), speaking about the Five Ways to Wellbeing, and the relationship to Groov's 6 Pillars of Mental Wellbeing, and Te Whare Tapa Whā. Watch the recording here.

 

Resources  

We have a range of resources to help you activate Mental Health Awareness Week. Packs this year include Five Ways accordion-style wallet cards, MHAW poster sets, a Five Ways to Wellbeing postcard and a tear-off poster that prompts you to put the Five Ways into action.

 

Activities

  • Run the MHAW quiz and test yours and others' Five Ways to Wellbeing knowledge
  • Print off our colouring template and encourage people to take a moment for themselves with some mindful colouring. Tamariki can enter our colouring competition with this template.
  • For inspiration and activity ideas to help bring MHAW to life, check out our MHAW Guide and more at mhaw.nz.

Rāhina / Monday

Take Notice | Me Aro Tonu

A fresh week, blank slate and a new beginning. Let's start the week by setting purpose and intention, today is the day to take stock – how have you been feeling recently, are there any events or stresses that you need to sit with and unpack? 

Developing the ability to be fully present and conscious without being overly reactive or overwhelmed is no easy feat, it takes practice to achieve the delicate balance of awareness. When we take notice or practice mindfulness, we’re creating space for ourselves—space to think, space to breathe, space between ourselves and our reactions.  

Use today as a reminder to pay more attention to the present moment, to our thoughts and feelings, and to the world around us. At the end of the week, you can reflect on how you felt at the start of the week, and how putting each of the Five Ways into practice has helped to boost your mental health.

A few ideas to help you take notice:

Rātū / Tuesday

Give | Tukua

Today is all about kindness. When we give selflessly to others, whether through our time, resources, or support, we create a positive ripple effect that extends beyond the people we engage with. Carrying out acts of kindness boosts our happiness, life satisfaction, and overall wellbeing. When we help others, it gives us purpose and a sense of belonging – it’s a win/win!  

Think about how you might be able to brighten the day of someone you care about, or even a complete stranger. A small gesture might mean the world to someone else, and you’ll get a bit of a boost, too!

A few ideas to help you give:

Rāapa / Wednesday

Be Active | Me Kori Tonu 

We're nearly over the midweek hump and are inching closer to the weekend. Today is the perfect opportunity to give yourself a refreshing boost by engaging in some physical activity. Wi tēnei rangi to get the blood flowing through your tinana/body?   

Physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins, the "feel-good" hormones, which can uplift your mood and increase feelings of happiness. It reduces stress and anxiety levels, promotes relaxation and enhances overall mental resilience. It can even sharpen our thinking and boost our creativity. 

Being active doesn’t always mean high-intensity cardio workouts, there are lots of ways you can move your tinana to uplift your mood, reduce stress, and feel a sense of achievement. Choose to do something that is purely for feeling good or having fun, and dedicate it to your wellbeing.

A few ideas hei āwhina/to help you be active:

Rāpare / Thursday

Connect | Me Whakawhanaunga

It’s nearly Friday – why not tap into those weekend vibes early, and carve out some time for some meaningful connection? Use today as a sign to arrange that outing or gathering with friends, participate in social events that you might be finding an excuse to skip, or seek out opportunities for shared experiences that deepen your connections.  

Connect refers to making social connections, or whakawhanaungatanga. A sense of feeling connected, loved or belonging with others is strongly associated with better wellbeing and other health outcomes by providing a sense of meaning, safety, support and purpose.  

A few ideas to help you connect:

Rāmere / Friday

Keep Learning | Me Ako Tonu

It might be the last day of MHAW, but today’s the day to reflect on what you’ve learnt throughout the week and implement those tools into the weekend and weeks beyond. 

Evidence suggests that learning or trying new things creates a sense of achievement, competence and stimulates engagement with the world around us. There are lots of ways that you can Keep Learning today and every day. 

A few ideas to help you keep learning: