Mental Health Awareness Week
In 2023, Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) will be held on 18 – 24 September.
MHAW is run annually by the Mental Health Foundation and has been since 1993. MHAW is endorsed by the World Federation for Mental Health and is marked in over 150 countries at different times of the year.
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme is Five Ways, Five Days. Life has been a rollercoaster lately, with stress and overwhelm hitting us from all angles. We’ve faced uncertainty, unfamiliarity, and hardships that have left us with mixed emotions. That’s why we’re bringing you the Five Ways for the Five Days of MHAW, to give us a set of proven tools to boost our mental health when we need it.
Take Notice | Me Aro Tonu – Monday
Take Notice refers to the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness can be thought of as open
and receptive attention to, and awareness of, what is occurring in the present moment.
Give | Tukua – Tuesday
Give refers to actions based on kindness, altruism, or generosity. Carrying out acts of
kindness boosts our happiness, life satisfaction, and overall wellbeing.
Be Active | Me Kori Tonu – Wednesday
Widely recognised as being crucial for physical health and fitness, being active is also a
powerful mood booster. Being active can not only make us feel good, it also enhances our
thinking and learning abilities.
Connect | Me Whakawhanaunga – Thursday
Connection is the ngākau/heart of our wellbeing. It weaves us together, making us feel
seen, heard, and understood. When we nurture meaningful connections with others, we
fuel our own happiness.
Keep Learning | Me Ako Tonu – Friday
Keep Learning refers to ‘exercising our mind’ – almost like taking our brain to the gym.
Any activity that challenges our thinking and expands our consciousness improves our
ability to think.
Mā te whakarongo, ka mōhio
through listening, comes knowledge
Mā te mōhio, ka mārama,
through knowledge, comes understanding
Mā te mārama, ka matau,
through understanding, comes wisdom
Mā te matau, ka ora
through wisdom, comes wellbeing
Follow Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand Facebook for more details
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