Foreword
Welcome to Issue 16 of MindNet. Now we are in the midst of winter - and with more than the usual winter ills to contend with - this time of year can be challenging.
It's all about keeping ourselves warm and healthy until Spring, and with more time spent indoors, we hope you enjoy reading our articles on how we can improve our mental health and wellbeing.
This issue we decided to focus on challenges and issues around Pacific mental health.
Our feature is an essay by David Lui about the impact of spirituality on mental health. It's from the 2007 book Penina Uliuli: Contemporary Challenges in Mental Health for Pacific People.
We also have a research article is from Le Va's Pacific Health Dialog about Pacific perspectives of Pacific models of mental health; and another article by PhD researcher Louise Ihimaera, who looks at a Maori approach to recovery.
The new Kai Xin Xing Dong website is our case study, and we talk to Manu Fotu from Vaka Tautua about his work. If you've always found using PowerPoint complicated, then Jade Caulfield shares some of her pointers on making those presentations work for you rather than against you.
Physical health is always important at this time of year, so we find out more about the Wonder Walkers from the Bay of Plenty and the benefits of walking for mental health. In Auckland Framework's Kelmarna Organic City Farms discusses the link between food and mood.
We've also introducing a new section - the mental health promoter's diary - where Mental Health Foundation mental health promoter, Dale Little, shares a snapshot of the work that she does.
Our reading list highlights resources about Pacific mental health promotion and this month's book review looks at Sebastian Barry's 'The Secret Scripture'.
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.
We would also love to get your feedback on MindNet, so please follow the link to our feedback form and tell us what you think!
Naku iti-nei, Judi Clements
