Foreword
Welcome to the Spring issue of MindNet, an online newsletter for people interested in mental health promotion.
This issue we are celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week - Who we are and where we stand - Ko Papatūānuku tōku tūrangawaewae (8 - 14 October). This resonates with me because I am linked to two countries - England and now New Zealand. I call both places home. England is where my blood family and long term friends are and yet in New Zealand I am finding a wonderful, new network of friends and a country rich in cultural diversity.
We're delighted that our guest editor is Materoa Mar, Chair of the Mental Health Foundation, who talks about what this year's Mental Health Awareness Week theme means to her.
We're fortunate enough to have research papers from Ruth DeSouza and Samson Tse on themes related to the Awareness Week - multicultural mental health in New Zealand and population perspectives on mental health. Ruth DeSouza has also contributed a second article that looks at Relationships as resources for mental health.
Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand (SPINZ), a service of the Mental Health Foundation, launched a groundbreaking new Samoan suicide prevention resource on World Suicide Prevention Day - 10 September 2007. In this issue of MindNet we find out why and how the resource was developed and how the Samoan community has received it.
We also take a look at the Ministry of Social Development and Family Commission's Campaign for Action on Family Violence and how violence impacts on mental health.
Don't forget our regular columns:
- An update on the National Depression Initiative
- Our Research and Evidence list
- An article from SPARC about physical activity for Maori and how it leads to improved mental health
- And an update from SPINZ
I hope you enjoy this issue. If you are interested in more information about Mental Health Awareness Week then please do visit the Mental Health Foundation website, where you'll find an awareness week toolkit packed full of articles, reading lists, media tips, activity guides and an events calendar.
Our summer issue will be out in the New Year and will focus on developments over the last decade of mental health promotion.
Judi Clements
