Know and value who you are

MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION OF NEW ZEALAND

MEDIA RELEASE 05 OCTOBER 2007

Mental Health Awareness Week encourages you to know and value who you are

Who we are and where we stand - Ko Papatūānuku tōku tūrangawaewae is the theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, held between 08 -14 October 2007. 

Judi Clements, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation says “Mental wellbeing comes from a variety of factors – but one of the most important comes from knowing and understanding who you are and being happy in the place that you stand – mentally and physically.”

Research tells us that factors such as discrimination and social exclusion have a negative impact on mental health, and in the process, devalue diversity.

The theme for the week, which is organised annually by the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, gives people the chance to value New Zealand as a diverse population – in both the range of cultures and experience of mental illness, and encourages us to think about the importance of our relationship with this land, as tangata whenua and as more recent immigrants.

To celebrate awareness week the Mental Health Foundation will launch a range of street wear t-shirts with fashion label The Hinitiative, www.thehinitiative.co.nz, will host a music event at the Galatos Basement, Auckland on 11 October at 7pm, and is holding a public hui on 19 October in collaboration with, and at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) about the impact of culture and diversity on mental health.

Throughout New Zealand, many other community groups are leading regional based activities based around this year’s theme. All will contribute to the national awareness of mental health.

A calendar of events planned for the week, including those of the Mental Health Foundation can be found at www.mentalhealth.org.nz

ENDS

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