Keep Learning

Individuals 

• Visit libraries and other community facilities – learn something new about the area in which you live, and while you are there check the notice boards for interesting talks and events.
• Try something you have always wanted to do but never actually done – organise it this week!
• Rediscover an old interest.
• Fix a bike.
• Start learning an instrument.
• Find and practice a recipe for your favourite food.
• Enhance your creativity - check out when art groups meet in your area.
• Join a book club.
• Start learning another language.
• Commit to learning to identify a new plant every day for a year.
• Learn to identify the various bird calls in your garden or neighbourhood.
• Join a dance or tai chi class – learn and be active at the same time!

Families 

• Go to the library together.
• As a family learn a new word every week. Use your dictionary. Practice using it among friends and family.
• Play learning games such as Scrabble.
• Turn family trips into fun learning opportunities e.g. geography, distance quizzes etc. play ’20 questions’.
• Shopping trips to learn about budgeting for kai etc.
•  

Communities

• Start or join a local ‘foragers’ group to identify edible plants in the neighbourhood.
• Encourage local libraries or community centres to hold workshops, dance classes or educational sessions on various topics.
• Start a ‘speaker’s series’ at the local community centre or library with talks by local people about their work or projects. 

Schools

• If you don’t already have one, organise an after school homework support or study group.
• Senior students team up with juniors to help with workload.  

Older people

• Listen to young peoples’ stories, they hold gems too.
• Check out activities in the area that you know nothing about – you may be surprised at what you learn.
• Take a free community computing course and learn more about the internet. 

Workplaces

• Ask the Mental Health Foundation to loan some books from their Resource Information Service to display/circulate to your workplace on mental health.
• Book Swap – get your colleagues to bring their favourite non-fiction book to work and learn about a new topic and your colleague’s interests at the same time
• Ask if a friend or family/whanau member with a mental illness can talk to a group of people to increase understanding and counter stigma.
• Focus your staff newsletter on staff profiles – who they are and where they have come from – include stories, themes and/or poems and learn about your colleagues
• Put your hand up for a new challenge/training in the workplace and broaden your knowledge.

Working with Primary Health Care/Health Professionals

• Pass on the latest research you may find that relates to a particular health professional or sector.
• Make a contribution to mental health sector newsletters and bulletins to keep health professionals informed of your relevant work.