Raising awareness of mental health for Pacific communities in Aotearoa
In support of Mental Health Awareness Week 2022, Vaka Tautua’s Ola Fiafia Mental Health teams in the Auckland and Wellington regions held fun activities throughout the week to engage their local communities and promote mental wellbeing for Pacific people.
Sose Annandale leading a wellbeing talanoa at Mt Albert Library
Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event, run in New Zealand by the Mental Health Foundation since 1993. The theme for this year was “Reconnect - with the people and places that lift you up, hei pikinga waiora.”
For Vaka Tautua, the week started with a talanoa hosted at Mt Albert Library and led by Community Support Worker Sose Annandale. The focus of the talk was ‘Movement’ to help build capacity to navigate wellbeing, with the team showcasing Pacific song and dance to highlight the concept.
‘Step for Health’ fitness class at Vaka Tautua’s Pacific Hub in Mt Albert
Continuing the theme of movement at our Pacific Hub in Mt Albert, Community Support Worker Jairus Ioane led a free ‘Step for Health’ aerobics class in collaboration with Shweat Fitness, the health and fitness ministry of Grace Community Church in Auckland.
Around 40 Vaka Tautua service users, staff and community members of all ages – from babies to matua – came together to get moving in the name of mental health.
Research shows that regular physical exercise can enhance mood by increasing the production of endorphins – our bodies’ ‘feel good’ hormones. Judging by the smiles and laughter throughout the class, this evidence is well supported.
Team Wellington serving up hot sausages in Porirua
At the end of the week, Vaka Tautua Wellington held a free sausage sizzle outside Porirua Pak n Save, inviting the local community for a ‘Kai and Kōrero’ to chat about mental wellbeing.
The team braved a rainy day to give away 240 sausages to shoppers and service users, distributing information and talking to passers-by about Vaka Tautua’s mental health services.
Many people were grateful for a hot treat to warm them up on the cold, wet day. One father even did a happy dance as he walked away with sausages for his children waiting in the car.
After more than two years of COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, it was great for our teams to be back engaging with the community in person, reconnecting and getting the message out there on how to enhance mental wellbeing.
Learn more about Vaka Tautua’s Ola Fiafia Mental Health Services
