Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) starts on Monday 21 September and this year it reflects the challenges we‘ve faced together in 2020.

This year‘s the theme, Reimagine Wellbeing Together – He Tirohanga Anamata, encourages New Zealanders to reflect on the big and small actions they‘ve taken to take care of each other this year, and to look at wellbeing through a new lens.

“We want New Zealanders to reimagine what wellbeing looks and feels like, and believe that wellbeing is possible for everyone,” says MHF chief executive Shaun Robinson.

Robinson acknowledges a level change announcement is due next week, which may bring up feelings of unease, but says he‘s proud of how New Zealanders “have rallied together and tackled the challenges of shifting through different levels”.

“Our new normal is quite different. The way we work, go to school and kura, and connect with friends and whanau have all changed this year – so if you‘re feeling off balance right now, know that it‘s completely normal to feel that way.

“Mental Health Awareness Week is a timely reminder of how important it is to embrace the simple things we can do each day to really help strengthen our wellbeing – that‘s what will help us during the tough times.”

Robyn Shearer, deputy-director general, Mental Health and Addiction at the Ministry of Health, agrees. “I‘m particularly pleased to hear so many schools and kura are taking part this year as we know it‘s been a particularly hard time for our young people, with disruptions and concerns about what will be waiting for them when they leave school or tertiary education.

“It‘s been a very unusual year. It‘s more important than ever to remind ourselves and each other that there are things we can do every day to look after our mental wellbeing. And taking care of each other and being kind is up there at the top of the list.”

Across Aotearoa, almost 10,000 workplaces, communities, whanau, schools and kura will be celebrating the taonga/treasure that is our mental health.

Each day of MHAW has a theme inspired by Te Whare Tapa Wha, a model developed by Maori health advocate and MHF patron Sir Mason Durie.

“Te Whare Tapa Wha helps us to find ways to look after our taha wairua (spiritual health), taha tinana (physical health), taha hinengaro (emotional and mental health), taha whanau (family and friends). When all these things are in balance, including the whenua (foundations) we thrive. When one or more of these is out of balance, our wellbeing is impacted,” says Thomas Strickland, Kaiwhakarite Maori development specialist, MHF.

The daily MHAW themes are:

Monday 21 September: Whanau
Recharge with others/Whiria te muka tangata

Tuesday 22 September: Wairua
Rediscover everyday wonder/Whaia nga miharotanga o ia ra

Wednesday 23 September: Whenua
Return to nature/Hono ki te taiao

Thursday 24 September: Tinana
Refuel your body/Whakamarohi to tinana

Friday 25 September: Hinengaro
Refresh your mind/Whangaia to hinengaro

These themes will be used as part of the popular wellbeing photo challenge that runs from 21 to 25 September. New Zealanders are encouraged to take photos related to the theme to show what wellbeing looks like to them. 

Visit mhaw.nz for ideas on how you can get involved in the week at your workplace, school or kura, whanau or community.