MHAW Day Four: Learn
MEDIA RELEASE
8 October
Winning Ways to Wellbeing Mental Health Awareness Week 5 - 11 October 2009
The Mental Health Foundation is issuing a challenge to all New Zealanders to focus on a "Winning Way to Wellbeing" every day for the working week.
Today's challenge is Learn. It is about trying something new or taking on a new responsibility or challenge.
"Learning can be pleasurable. Learn a language, a musical instrument, anything that keeps your brain active," says Judi Clements, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation."
Learning can also be about rediscovering an old interest. For activity ideas on learning as an individual, workplace, community and more,visit the Foundation's online MHAW toolkit.
Based on research by the Foresight Project that identified five ways to wellbeing, each Winning Way is a method everyone can use to support their own wellbeing and that of the people around them. Winning Ways to Wellbeing is also the theme for this year's Mental Health Awareness Week.
A series of exciting events have been planned for the week throughout New Zealand, including a fashion show and t-shirt launch, a gig, a fiesta, a CD launch, art exhibitions, a book launch, and more. Visit the events calendar.
There are lots of MHAW events on today. At AUT Conference Centre, Auckland, there is an afternoon Mental Health Workshop followed by an evening reception. Controversial theatre piece Girl with no words - listening to the language of cutting has its opening night in Auckland at Carrington's Café, Unitec Campus, and October Gig 09 takes place tonight at the King's Arms, Newton, Auckland.
Additionally, every day during MHAW, a new video on mental health will be available online on the Foundation's website. In today's video Karin Byrt, primary care liaison nurse specialist at Auckland DHB, talks about the role of primary care in wellbeing.
Mental Health Awareness Week is endorsed by the World Federation for Mental Health and marked in over 150 countries. World Mental Health Day takes place on Saturday 10 October.
For further enquiries:
Carrie Briffett
Communications Officer
Mental Health Foundation
(09) 966 5725 or 021 918 220
carrie "at" mentalhealth.org.nz
