Changing Clendon For The Better

Changing Clendon For The Better

The Mental Health Foundation is encouraging all New Zealanders to play their part in looking after their mental health and by doing so helping create a society where all people flourish.

Each day this week the Foundation will be releasing an article highlighting flourishing communities from around the country. Today’s community is Clendon.

Clendon has had a negative reputation for a long time now however following a resident’s meeting in 2003 some of the residents decided to band together and form the Clendon Residents Group with the aim of creating a healthier community.

The group now runs several projects including a tool and toy library, a beautify your home project, a community garden and a variety of events such as beach clean up days.

Clendon Residents Group Chairman Sarah Brown says people are interested in coming together as a community. “We’ve found a lot of people would like to come and meet other people in their community and want to be involved in something but don’t know how to be,” she says. The Group’s projects give them the opportunity to connect with and help their community.

To find out more about Clendon and the work of the Clendon Residents Group please visit http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/newsletters/view/article/21/283/2010/ .

“The residents of Clendon wanted to make a difference within their own community and they got out there and did just that” says Judi Clements, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation. “The results they have achieved within a short period of time prove that a community that works together can truly flourish”

A series of exciting events have been planned for the week throughout New Zealand, including charity screenings of The Insatiable Moon, various forums and workshops, art exhibitions and more. Check out our events calendar - http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/page/777-2010-flourishing-for-everybody+events-calendar .

Mental Health Awareness Week begins today, with World Mental Health Day taking place on Sunday 10 October. It is endorsed by the World Federation for Mental Health and marked in over 150 countries.

ENDS

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