Getting Through Together Digest: 19th August 2020
Kia ora. Congratulations Tāmaki Makaurau on getting through one week of noho rāhui/ lockdown! If you're in Auckland, know that the rest of the country has got your back - we're grateful for what you're doing for us.
While 2020 has thrown a lot of challenges our way, we've shown that by working together, for each other, we make an incredible team.
The year has also highlighted that even in the most trying of times, we've been able to look after our wellbeing. Mental Health Awareness Week is coming up in September and it’s a chance to build on the simple things we’ve been doing to look after ourselves and our whānau – like sticking to a routine and connecting with friends and whānau – and to reimagine what wellbeing looks like, together.
It's always a good idea to focus on the stuff we can control if things seem too big or a tad overwhelming. While we've all become experts in hand-washing and physical distancing, for a lot of us this whole wearing a mask thing is new territory. Because wearing is caring, in this edition we're inviting you to join our MASK-ARADE.
Arohanui,
All Right? and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
Mental Health Awareness Week 2020
This year hasn’t been easy. Many of us have had to reconsider the experiences, actions and surroundings that make us feel good, stay well, and uplift our wellbeing.
Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) 2020 is 21st to 27th September – and it’s more timely than ever. It’s an opportunity for us all to redefine and rediscover what wellbeing looks and feels like – during COVID-19 and beyond.
So, whether you've got wellbeing tools in your kete to share, or you're looking for new ways to give yourself a boost, we hope you’ll join us this MHAW to Reimagine Wellbeing Together: He Tirohanga Anamata. Announcements on resources are coming soon.
Be sure to register online to receive exclusive updates to help you spread the word and get involved in the week!
Will you join our MASK-ARADE?!
In the spirit of using our imagination to power our wellbeing - how about turning mask-wearing into an art form? Have you got a funky mask? Or maybe you've dusted off the Bernina and have been sewing up a storm?
We’ve decided to celebrate many Kiwis’ new look with a MASK-ARADE!
Share a pic of you, your mates or your whānau sporting your masks out 😷 and about and you’ll go in the draw to win $200 to spend at HAPA's sweet online store of kiwi-made products.
Find out more about HAPA's kiwi-made products.
Remember whānau – wearing is caring.
Head to our MASK-ARADE Facebook competition to enter. Good luck!!
How to get through round two
Doing the little things that make you feel good can make a big difference to how we feel. These actions can become even more important to prioritise when times are tough.
Check out the full list of little wellbeing actions on Instagram. Explore the things that work for you and keep at them!
Pregnant in lockdown... again.
You gotta meet Rachael - we love her. Now in her third trimester, the Auckland woman is trying to make the most of her second noho rāhui.
Despite the virus’s re-emergence, she's staying upbeat.
“We’ve done it before we can do it again. If everyone just follows the rules we’ll be out of this pretty quickly I think.”
Read Rachel's story about being hapu during an outbreak - and some handy hacks for keeping the whole whānau happy.
Life in lockdown
A huge thanks to students at Burnside High School and St Bede's College for sharing their noho rāhui experiences - what was tough, what they liked, and what they discovered.
We hope their peers in Tāmaki Makaurau can take heart from their messages. And parents... take hope that there's at least one child in Aotearoa who - due to his first noho rāhui experience - no longer finds his family annoying (all the time).
Not all right?
We all need a bit of support from time to time. There are free help and support services available if you or someone you know is struggling right now.
Call or text 1737 to speak with a trained counsellor anytime - it’s free and completely confidential. You can also call Lifeline on 0800 543354 or text HELP to 4357.
Check out the Mental Health Foundation’s website for further advice on how to stay mentally well during this time.
Until next time, stay well Aotearoa.
And remember, we'll get through this - together.
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