Some useful contact details

Just following the last post. If after watching you feel there are any issues you need to talk to someone around or what to explore furhter please contact:

Mental Health Foundation - www.mentalhealth.org.nz/page/303-In-Crisis

Lifeline 0800 543 354 or (09) 522 2999
Suicide Prevention Helpline 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOK0)
Youthline 0800 376 633
Samaritans 0800 726 666

The lowdown - www.thelowdown.co.nz
Depression - http://www.depression.org.nz/ (JK’s stuff) helpline – 0800 111 757

There are also other resources on the wellbeing page of this site.

World first campaign aims to take Canterbury beyond All Right

Media Release - 25/02/2013
World first campaign aims to take Canterbury beyond All Right
A world first social marketing campaign designed to help us think about our mental health and wellbeing is hitting the streets of Canterbury this week.

The ‘All Right’ campaign is a Healthy Christchurch project led by the Mental Health Foundation and the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB).

Sue Turner, Healthy Christchurch manager, says there is a strong need for the campaign.

“Canterbury has changed a lot and we all see things a little differently. All Right is about helping people realise that they’re not alone, encouraging them to connect with others, and supporting them to boost their wellbeing,” Ms Turner says.

“Over the next three years the campaign will continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of our community.”

Ms Turner says the campaign has been informed by extensive research, including interviews with community leaders, focus groups, and a phone survey of 800 people in Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn.

“Our research showed that there are large chunks of our population who are struggling and who would benefit from tools and support to improve their wellbeing.

“The stress and anxiety caused by dealing with insurance, repairs, and the agencies involved in the recovery has resulted in a ‘double blow’ which for many has proved more debilitating than the earthquakes.

Sue says the research also showed there’s a sense people have been forgotten in the recovery and buildings are more important than people.

“All Right is about ensuring wellbeing is at the heart of our recovery,” Sue says.

“Overall the research paints a very complex picture of where people are with their wellbeing. On the one hand people are struggling with specifics – things like dealing with insurers and repairs. On the other there’s a new found sense of hope and optimism for the future.”

Sue Turner says the campaign is a world first.

“This is the first time a social marketing campaign focusing on mental health and wellbeing has been used following a major disaster. We anticipate that what we’ve learned so far in the development of the campaign, and what we will continue to discover, will be of great benefit to future recovery efforts around the world.”

There are three phases to the campaign. The first phase started this week and includes street posters, bus shelters and newspaper advertising. Phase two begins in late March and encourages people to stop and consider their wellbeing and that of others, and to take small steps to address it. Phase three provides opportunities and resources for communities in Canterbury to make the campaign their own.

To view some of the resources for phase 1 click here:
http://gallery.mailchimp.com/9e99e8fd26a1d68b3f1a4748b/files/Allright_Phase1.pdf

Productive hours

When are you at your most productive? When are you in a space where time just disappears and what you are doing seems to pass in minutes?

Do you have techniques or approaches to improve your productivity and allow you to be in flow more often?

When you are more productive you feel better and enjoy what you are doing.

In today’s modern environments there can be some many distractions and things that divert you from what you want to do. A simple task may take double the time. Labour saving devices become instruments of frustration. How do you remove the clutter from your mind to focus on the little things that matter?

Take the time to reflect and prepare for what you want to achieve.

Rural Mental Health Campaign

4/02/2013 2:00:00 p.m.

Federated Farmer’s ‘When Life’s a Bitch’, rural mental health campaign, is under way and picking up traction.

“Rural Kiwis are coming forward, wanting to share their stories and to help those who are struggling,” says Jeannette Maxwell, Federated Farmers Health & Safety spokesperson.

“It is heart warming to see fellow Kiwi’s reaching out to each other, given the disproportionate number of suicides in rural New Zealand. Not surprisingly we have been getting many emails of support.

“Our campaign is supported by AgITO, Farmsafe, Beef & Lamb, Rural Woman NZ, Vodafone, Rural Support Trusts, NZ Rural GP Network, Dairy Women’s Network and Vodafone.

“Wallet sized ‘When Life’s a Bitch’ cards are now arriving in farmers’ mail boxes right around the country.

“Federated Farmers has combined with those in the primary industries and other health organisations, to get the message out that we need better resources for rural mental health. That starts with more open discussion around the issue of how to improve access in remote areas.

“Federated Farmer’s website now has a page dedicated to Rural Mental Health, providing information, tools, contacts and people’s stories.

“We are excited about the traction this project is gaining, showing just how important the issue really is.

“We would like to thank all those who have helped make this initiative happen,” Mrs. Maxwell concluded.

Several other organisations have also developed great initiatives to improve rural mental wellbeing. Rural Woman New Zealand has just released their Feeling Rotten survey and there is also the Dairy Farmer Wellness and Wellbeing Programme, focused on rural mental and physical health, which is run by the Dairy Women’s Network, Dairy NZ, the New Zealand Institute of Rural Health and AgResearch. Several of the Rural Support Trusts also provide fantastic support to people experiencing depression.

For more information, or to share your story, please contact;

Jeanette Maxwell, Federated Farmers health & safety spokesperson, 027 357 4464, 03 302 8860

Kara Lok, Federated Farmers Health Policy Advisor, 04 470 216, klok@fedfarm.org.nz

Penny Clark-Hall, Federated Farmers Communications Advisor, 04 470 2162, 027 723 2733, pclark-hall@fedfarm.org.nz

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