Learn how to grow your brain at a special wellbeing forum

11 July 2012

Learn how to grow your brain, feel calmer & focus better at a special wellbeing forum

Well known Auckland sleep expert Tony Fernando will take Mental Health Foundation forum goers on a ‘mindfulness trip’ during a special one day national event to be held in Christchurch in July.

The Flourish – Well into the future forum on 30 July will feature several expert keynote speakers, each with a fresh take on the emerging ‘science’ of looking at what it is to flourish.

Dr Fernando, a senior lecturer in psychological medicine at Auckland medical school, will teach mindfulness and attendees will learn how to ‘stay in the moment’.

Mental Health Foundation mental health promoter Grant Rix says mindfulness has been shown to benefit our brains to such an extent that we can feel calmer, more aware, have an increased ability to focus and concentrate, remember things better and feel happier.

The more we practise it, the more we can stop worrying about past problems and future fears, and focus more fully on the here and now.

“Astoundingly, the brain grows in the areas responsible for learning and memory, while decreasing in the fear centre. There is also growth in the empathy and compassion areas, a decrease in feelings of stress and anxiety, and growth in the areas responsible for attention and sensory processing,” Mr Rix says.

Dr Fernando’s mindfulness presentation will be of interest to anyone looking to lead a happier, calmer life, and to those at the coal face (employers, counsellors, health professionals etc) working with people who are stressed.

Other keynote presenters at the daytime session include:

• Aaron Jarden, on GROW: the best way to assess wellbeing.
• Niki Harré, author of Psychology for a Better World: Strategies to Inspire Sustainability, on how to inspire positive social change.
• Eva Neitzert, from Net Balance, bringing an economist’s perspective to creating a society with greater equality and wellbeing.
• Monique Faleafa, National Manager, Le Va, on making positive differences in the lives of Pacific people so that our communities can lead healthy lives.

Event organiser Freedom Preston-Clark says the forum promises to bring fresh thinking on how to create a flourishing future for all New Zealanders.

“It will focus on practical ways that we can all work together – as individuals, business people, health professionals, local authorities, social service organisations and anyone of influence in the community - to build positive mental health, resilience and improved social relationships,” she says.

Building on the success of the Mental Health Foundation’s 2010 Flourishing event, July’s forum will also include networking opportunities and energetic discussions.

“People will have time to interact with speakers and other guests in order come away with ideas they can apply to their particular situations,” Ms Preston-Clark says.

Reducing health and social inequalities

The forum is part of the Mental Health Foundation’s work to help people from different sectors learn from each other and play a role in increasing wellbeing, and reducing social inequalities.

“The ideas and practices that we can all engage in to support and develop good mental health are pretty straightforward,” says Judi Clements, Mental Health Foundation Chief Executive.

“The resulting benefits are healthier workplaces with fewer missed days, improved physical and mental health, individuals who contribute positively to their communities, increased resilience and more.”

Forum’s commitment to Christchurch

As a commitment to the Garden City’s recovery from the 2010/11 earthquakes, the forum is being held at La Vida Centre in Riccarton. It is a way of making it easier and more affordable for Canterbury’s businesses and individuals to attend. Another incentive is offering discounted registrations to all Christchurch residents.

Organisers are also making a point to use local Christchurch services and suppliers and have invited local heroes as guest speakers at the evening function: Coralie Winn (Gap Filler), Adam McGrath (The Eastern/Harbour Union bands), Bob Frame (Magnetic South), Henry Sunderland (Flowers in road cones) and Jade Temepara (Hand over a Hundy) – with guest speaker, Steve Gurney and MC Lindon Puffin.

Two of the challenges for the event are to:

• Create a zero-waste event, in line with the Foundation’s Sustainability and Flourishing Paper, and
• Explore digital alternatives to traditional conference technologies, like the age-old PowerPoint presentation, that engage emotions rather than relate facts.

Flourish – Well into the future http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/page/1163-flourish
Register now: http://flourish2012.eventbrite.com/
Discounts apply for the first 100 registrations, as well as for all Christchurch residents.
Date: Monday 30 July 2012
Time: 9am – 4.30pm for day event & 5pm – 7pm for evening event
Venue: La Vida Centre, Riccarton, Christchurch

ENDS

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