Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa New Zealand

🌟 Youth mental health is one of New Zealand’s biggest challenges, and broadcaster Duncan Garner brought this important topic into focus in a recent episode of his podcast, Duncan Garner - Editor in Chief Live. 🎧 Tune in to hear insights from Karyn Munro, a Youth MHFA Aotearoa trainer; Fiona Humphries, Fiordland College's guidance counsellor; and Nina Menegatti-Zink, Fiordland College head girl. They discuss the impact of Youth Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa at the school, and the positive work being done in the Southern Lakes region, thanks to Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group and Te Pou . 🔗 Link to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/gKrtqW5A 🗓️ Credit: Duncan Garner Editor in Chief Live (24 September 2024), available on Rova, YouTube, TikTok, Spotify, and more. Want to make a difference? Join us for the next Youth Mental Health First Aid new instructor training in Hamilton this March: https://lnkd.in/gmti-RFT #YouthMentalHealth #Wellbeing #Podcast #TalkingAboutMentalHealth #SuicidePrevention Health New Zealand | Southern

Awesome to see this commitment to youth mental health from Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu - The Correspondence School 👏 🤩 🧡 Thank you for supporting your kaimahi and ākonga

🌏 Last week, some of our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Aotearoa team had the pleasure of meeting Clifford and Lynette from MHFA International, who were visiting Auckland from Australia for the Indigenous Wellbeing Conference. It was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen international connections and share insights, especially in supporting mental health for our Indigenous communities.   We heard about the success of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander MHFA programme in Australia and shared the story about our kaupapa here in Aotearoa.   Thanks to Clifford and Lynette from MHFAI for their time meeting with Angela, Sarah, and Jo from our team. Here’s to many more opportunities for collaboration across the Tasman. 🌊✨    #MHFAAotearoa #IndigenousWellbeing #MentalHealthCollaboration Mental Health First Aid International Sarah Christensen Angela Gruar Jo Lai

Today we are at the Wintec - Waikato Institute of Technology Staff Wellbeing Expo in Kirikiriroa Hamilton. It's great to be working alongside Just a Thought at the event, who are also part of our Wise Group whānau. It's awesome to have our wonderful tāne representing and chatting about the importance of wellbeing and good mental health. 💚💜 Kia ora Alf and Jared! Thank you for your mahi today. #MentalHealthFirstAid #MentalHealth #ImportantConversations #Wellbeing #GoodMentalHealth

🏢 Behind the scenes 🏢 Our team got together today for a planning and strategy day in Tāmaki Makaurau.✍️ It was a great chance to talk about our mahi, the growth of Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa, and our aspirations for the programme. We also enjoyed catching up over kai 🥣 With team members in different parts of the motu, it was lovely to be together face to face 🤝 #MentalHealthFirstAid #Team #Planning #Kōrero #Strategy #Wellbeing

Fantastic to see Youth Mental Health First Aid in the news this week with a great story about Youth MHFA Aotearoa instructor Fiona Humphries and why she's passionate about ensuring adults at Fiordland College and the wider community have the knowledge and confidence to support their young people. '“The more people we have in the community who have the confidence to approach and manage a young person in distress, the better." That’s Fiona Humphries’ “why”. It’s the reason she’s making sure as many Fiordland residents as possible are trained in mental health first aid.' Fiona was part of the first cohort of Youth MHFA instructors to be trained in Aotearoa. The programme is currently being rolled out across the motu. Thank you to Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group for the funding to adapt the Youth MHFA programme for Aotearoa and pilot in the Southern Lakes region. 🧡 Read the Southland Times article here: https://lnkd.in/gJtuM-Bb Te Pou #YouthMentalHealthFirstAid #YouthWellbeing #YouthMentalHealth #MHFAAotearoa

As we recognise World Mental Health Day on October 10, it's vital to reflect on the role of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in fostering mental health and wellbeing across our global communities. In a world where mental health challenges are increasingly common, MHFA has become an essential tool for empowering individuals to respond to crises, support one another, and create compassionate, informed communities. Mental health is everyone’s business. Just like physical first aid, MHFA equips everyday people with the skills to recognise early signs of mental health struggles, offer immediate support, and connect individuals with the appropriate professional help. Whether it’s offering a listening ear to a colleague, supporting a friend experiencing anxiety, or recognising change in a loved one, MHFA ensures that no one has to navigate mental health challenges alone. In global communities, where access to mental health services can be uneven, MHFA fills a critical gap. It equips people from all walks of life to intervene early, reducing the burden on overstrained healthcare systems while ensuring that help is available at the community level. It creates a ripple effect—spreading mental health literacy, reducing stigma, and ultimately fostering more supportive and resilient communities worldwide. MHFA is more than just a set of skills; it’s a movement. It builds empathy, awareness, and action, ensuring that mental health is seen as a priority and that everyone has the tools to make a difference. As we mark World Mental Health Day, let’s celebrate the power of MHFA in driving meaningful change, creating safer spaces, and making mental health care accessible to all. Together, we can strengthen global wellbeing, one conversation at a time. Mental Health First Aid International Marc Bryant 🐨Mental Health First Aid INDIA (#MHFAIndia)#MHFAIndia) Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa New Zealand https://lnkd.in/gKjEKAgY

🌍 World Mental Health Day 2024 🌍 Today, on World Mental Health Day, we’re focusing on mental health in the workplace—where we spend a significant portion of our lives. Did you know? - More than 1 in 5 Kiwis are likely to experience mental health challenges in any 12-month period - 47% of New Zealanders are likely to experience mental health challenges at some point in their lives A supportive work environment fosters mental health, while poor working conditions can harm mental wellbeing. The 2024 Workplace Wellbeing survey (from the EMA and nib New Zealand) showed rising concerns among Kiwi workers for: - their own personal mental health and wellbeing (56%, up from 51%) - the risk of burnout at work (52%, up from 47%) That’s where Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa comes in. We’re building a network of Mental Health First Aiders across New Zealand workplaces to recognise and respond when people are experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. Increasing mental health literacy in our workplaces can make a big difference in creating healthier, more supportive work environments across Aotearoa. 💼🧠 Find out more: https://lnkd.in/guUZZNTt #WorldMentalHealthDay #WorkplaceWellbeing #MentalHealthFirstAid #SupportEachOther #MentalHealthMatters World Health Organization Mental Health First Aid International Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand Matt Doocey Sarah Christensen

We are pleased to see work progressing to repeal the current Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992, which is more than thirty years old and was identified in 2018 as having significant issues. He Ara Oranga: Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction recommended that the Mental Health Act be repealed and replaced in order to reflect a human rights-based approach, promote supported decision-making, align with the recovery and well-being model of mental health, and provide measures to minimise compulsory or coercive treatment. Compulsory care should always be a last resort as it can have a significant impact on people’s lives and their loved ones. It is crucial we have legislation that ensures compulsory mental health care, when used, is provided in a safe, rights-based and recovery-focused way that is whānau inclusive. We encourage people to read the Bill and make a submission once public submissions open. You can read the Bill and find out more about the process here: https://lnkd.in/gkRQaPG6

Congratulations to Ministry of Education New Zealand staff from the Otago/Southland region who have embraced the Youth Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa programme! Former MOE wellbeing advisor, Melissa Mitchell-Bain, has been a driving force in the organisation, facilitating a number of workshops with MOE staff around the wider Southern region. “This mahi is so important in our communities,” says Melissa. “It is wonderful that the team - who regularly work in schools and with rangatahi - have enhanced their knowledge and confidence so they can better support young people experiencing a mental health challenge.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/g8V9WAR7 Pictured: Otago/Southland Ministry of Education staff with their Youth MHFA Aotearoa two-day workshop certificates. Former MOE wellbeing advisor and accredited Youth MHFA Aotearoa instructor Melissa Mitchell-Bain. #YouthMentalHealthFirstAid #YouthWellbeing #ItTakesAVillage Hon Erica Stanford MP Matt Doocey