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Mental Health Awareness Week will encourage New Zealanders to reach out, connect and help others feel included when it runs from October 12 to 18.
This year’s theme, Belonging Matters, focuses on the everyday connections that can strengthen mental wellbeing and build more resilient communities.
The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand (MHF) says the campaign comes amid growing concerns about loneliness and declining levels of trust. Research shows only 53 per cent of New Zealanders feel their neighbourhood has a strong sense of community.
MHF chief executive Shaun Robinson says humans are social beings and feeling connected to others is vital for mental and emotional health.
“Connection works at many levels – whānau, friends, workplaces, schools, community and country,” he says.
“It is a two-way street, we need to reach out and we need to invite people in.”
The week is grounded in the whakataukī Ko au ko koe, ko koe ko au – I am you, and you are me.
Schools, workplaces and community groups are being encouraged to take part, with actions as simple as checking in on a mate, making time for a kōrero or reaching out to someone new.
Free resources and ideas for organising Mental Health Awareness Week activities are available at mhaw.nz.
