Foreword
Kia ora. Welcome to the Spring issue of MindNet. Now that the warmer weather has arrived and a hot summer is not too far away, the wet, chilly winter is becoming a faint memory.
The last three months have felt particularly busy for the Mental Health Foundation.
We organised our fourth annual Mental Health Promotion Hui in Orongomai Marae, Lower Hutt. We also hosted Dr Margaret Barry as well as running a successful 'Suicide Prevention and the Media' seminar series for World Suicide Prevention Day in Auckland, Wellington and Nelson.
We promoted Mental Health Awareness Week 2008 in early October and were joined by hundreds of organisations across New Zealand who all had their own take on "Make your mark for mental health".
On 10 October, at the conclusion of the week, we celebrated the Foundation's 30th birthday and launched our own publication on the history of the Mental Health Foundation, Change in Mind / Kia Puawai a Mua.
CELEBRATION: Photo taken at the Mental Health Foundation's 30th anniversary celebration and history book launch at Te Papa, Wellington on 10th October 2008, World Mental Health Day (left to right): Peter McGeorge (MHF Co-Patron), Fuimaono Karl Pulotu-Enderman (MC), Judi Clements (MHF Chief Executive) and David Lui (MHF board member).
This issue of MindNet is focused on evaluation and sustainability in mental health promotion and we have had a wide variety of contributions.
Our guest editorial is from Kate McKegg, an evaluation specialist who works with Sports and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) and many other government and non-profit organisations on social evaluation projects.
We've included an article about Dr Margaret Barry's presentations and the knowledge and expertise she shared while she was here.
Other contributions have come from Mental Health Promotion staff - Marie Hull-Brown, Dale Little and Ivan Yeo - as well as organisations like Schizophrenia Fellowship New Zealand Inc and the Quit Group.
We hope that you enjoy the articles in this issue and remember, if you are interested in contributing an article to MindNet then please feel free to contact the Mental Health Foundation at mindnet@mentalhealth.org.nz Our Summer issue's theme is 'Mental health promotion for men'.
We would also love your feedback on MindNet, so please tell us what you think!
Naku iti-nei,
Judi Clements
