Getting Through Together Digest: 24th February 2022
Kia ora Although it's less than two years since COVID arrived in Aotearoa, it's hard to imagine not having COVID in our lives. What did we talk about? How much did we take for granted!?
It's a really tricky time, with cases on the rise and the solidarity that typified our nation's response to the first lockdown under strain. It's easy to get caught up in the case numbers and spend far too much time checking out our social pages and news websites for breaking news.
While we're all for being informed, it can be good to ask yourself if all this information is actually making you better off, and what else you could be doing instead? It's questions like these that led to Professor Ekant Veer taking up cross-stitching - you can read more about his new, manly as hobby in this issue.
Ekant's a good friend of All Right?, contributing to our campaign in pre-COVID times when our reason for being was supporting Cantabrians recover from the earthquakes and all the secondary stressors that followed - things like dealing with insurance, driving on munted roads and the loss of community facilities.
Tuesday marked the 11th anniversary of the 22 February earthquake so for this issue, we spoke with Darren Wright from the Greater Christchurch Claims Resolution Service on the support his organisation continues to provide homeowners still fighting for a fair deal.
Pandemics, like earthquakes, can cause a lot of stress and worry. But they can also result in beautiful displays of kindness, altruism and aroha. Taking time to appreciate this good stuff can really help us when times are tough.
Kia kaha Aotearoa,
All Right? and the Mental Health Foundation
View the Getting Through Together Digest for 24th February 2022 online.
Not all right?
New challenges and the loss of our regular routines is causing stress for many of us. This can really erode our wellbeing over time. It’s important to remember to do the little things that help recharge us. It’s also important to know there is someone to talk to and free help available.
It’s all right to reach out if you need to - we all need a bit of support from time-to-time.
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.
Mauri tū, mauri ora
An active soul is a healthy soul.