Te Hau Toka update: Looking after your mental wellbeing Jan 2022

Kia ora koutou katoa, and Happy New Year from the Te Hau Toka team.  We hope you’ve managed to get some downtime to relax, catch up with friends and whānau, and enjoy the gorgeous weather even if you’ve been working through.

2022 is shaping up to be another challenging year which makes it even more important to prioritise looking after ourselves and each other.  We all need a bit of mental health support from time to time and if you, or someone you know is struggling, there is free help available. Check out our Traffic Light Guide for support in the Southern Lakes region and follow us on Facebook for health/ wellbeing news and tips. 

NZ’s move to Red to help manage the spread of Omicron has understandably caused a spike in emotions and stress levels. You, or someone you know, might be feeling a bit flat, fatigued, anxious, tearful, overwhelmed, or even relieved that it’s finally here.  This is all completely normal. 

For some excellent practical advice on how to find calmness, check out this radio interview with psychologist Dr Sarb Johal.  Sarb is an expert in psychosocial response and disaster mental health, and has advised the UK and NZ governments and the World Health Organisation through some of the major crises of the last decade including the H1N1 pandemic, Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes, Christchurch mosque shootings, and COVID-19.

News

Connecting Communities dates for your diary - Our next Connecting Communities funding rounds are 28 February - 11 March 2022 and 4-15 July 2022 so put your thinking caps on – we’d love to hear your ideas! Eligible groups can apply for up to $1,000 to run activities or events in Queenstown, Wānaka, Cromwell, or Te Anau/Fiordland that improve mental wellbeing. The activities must aim to bring people together in person or online, promote the Five Ways to Wellbeing and Te Whare Tapa Wha, and align with COVID requirements. More details here.

Resources - Agencies are welcome to use our mental wellbeing service directories and other resources (Traffic Light Guide, 1737 posters etc.) to help connect people to free support services available across the region. Click on the drop-down Need Help section of our webpage to download what you need.

Partner programmes

Connecting online – Need help using a tablet or getting onto social media? QLDC Libraries and Southern REAP are running a series of free digital learning sessions in February at Queenstown Memorial Centre. Traffic Light Red settings apply with scanning in, vaccine pass, mask wearing, and physical distancing required.  Bookings essential, please register with Southern Reap via 0800 111 117 / enquiries@reap.co.nz.

Wellbeing livestreams for 12-24 year-olds – Grab your friends and whānau and join Thrive! Wellbeing Coaches online every Monday and Wednesday @4.30pm and every Tuesday and Thursday @1pm for 30-minute wellbeing livestreams focusing on the 5 Ways to Wellbeing, and learning and practicing new skills.

Addiction 101 workshop - This free one-day workshop aims to increase people’s knowledge about substance use both at work and in everyday life, including strategies for wellbeing and responding supportively.  It’s helpful for anyone interested in addiction, including those concerned about their own substance use, or for those concerned about another person’s use, including family members, friends or someone they’re working with.  It’s also suitable for health professionals and counsellors without prior training or qualifications in the addiction sector. Traffic Light Red settings apply with scanning in, vaccine pass, mask wearing, and physical distancing required. 

• Queenstown: Monday 21 February, 9am-4.30pm, Heritage Hotel. Register here.
• Te Anau: Monday 14 March, 9am-4.30pm, Distinction Luxmore Hotel, 41 Town Centre. Register here.

Free suicide prevention training – The next LifeKeepers training programme will be held on 14 February, 8:45am–5pm, in Queenstown. This free, evidence-based, clinically safe and culturally responsive programme aims to equip communities and whānau with the knowledge and skills needed to help prevent suicide. It includes learning how to talk about suicide responsibly, what to look for when someone may be at risk, understanding the risk factors that contribute to someone being suicidal, developing strategies for how to ask about suicide, responding with confidence, and knowing how to engage different services and supports. Available to NZ citizens/residents aged 18+. Traffic Light Red settings apply with scanning in, vaccine pass, mask wearing, and physical distancing required.  Register here.

Te Anau Mental Health 101 workshop: Spaces are still available for this free workshop on Monday 31 January at the Distinction Luxmore, Te Anau (9am-4.30pm). Traffic Light Red settings apply with scanning in, vaccine pass, mask wearing, and physical distancing required.  Register here.

Working Well - How can you improve your workplace culture, prioritise mental wellbeing and create a work environment where people feel safe, calm, connected and hopeful through COVID-19 and beyond?  Here are a few resources to help:

• Free webinars and other material from the Mental Health Foundation of NZ with practical tips on getting through COVID-19 and prioritising individual and collective wellbeing
• Tips for people managers to open the conversation about mental health and find resources
• Tips for leaders in ‘Executive Loneliness’, an international bestselling book by Nick Jonsson, as well as a link to his Leaders Anonymous Network and the Executives Global Network which is a confidential peer group connecting senior executives.
• Some private providers, like Ahua Psychology and Connect and Care, are offering workplace wellbeing workshops. We also recommend you check providers on the Regional Business Partners website to see if you can apply for funding. 

Mental toughness events: If you’re keen for more mental toughness training or leadership adversity coaching, check out HALO Training’s range of comprehensive, paid events on their Facebook page for details or to register attendance.  If you’re a non-profit organisation/group, please contact them directly for special pricing.

GoodYarn new/expectant parents workshop – Having a baby? Come along to Southern Wellbeing Trust’s next free workshop this Saturday 29 January, 9:30am-12:30pm at Queenstown Playcentre, to learn how you can better support your mental health and wellbeing. Upskilling yourself before your baby comes means you’ll be better prepared for the challenges ahead, can build connections with other parents-to-be and support those around you to stay well on the road to parenthood. Traffic Light Red settings apply with scanning in, vaccine pass, mask wearing, and physical distancing required.  Details here, register via workshops@southernwellbeingtrust.org.

GoodYarn Community Partners training workshop – The Southern Wellbeing Trust is running a free training session on 15 February, 11am-2pm in the Queenstown Event Centre meeting room, for those who work with community groups, volunteers, individuals or have an interest in supporting the mental wellbeing of the Queenstown Lakes community. Learn how to talk about mental health, how you can better support those around you, and pick up valuable tips and information to support your own mental health and wellbeing. Traffic Light Red settings apply with scanning in, vaccine pass, mask wearing, and physical distancing required.  Details here, register via workshops@southernwellbeingtrust.org.

Kā mihi nui,

Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group

Find out more about the Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group and follow us on Facebook for regional health/wellbeing news and tips.