This week is Mental Health Awareness week. This year’s theme is ‘Five Ways, Five Days’, which is based on the Mental Health Foundation’s wonderful Five Ways to Wellbeing resource.
Tāmaki Makaurau Recovery Office wants to take this opportunity to acknowledge the immense toll the extreme weather events earlier this year have had on the mental and emotional health of many whānau across Auckland.
These events have been distressing and extremely traumatic for many of you. This can be a heavy burden to carry on your shoulders. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, angry, frustrated, anxious, tired, or something else entirely, these are all very normal and human responses to a difficult situation.
While we acknowledge the road to recovery is still uncertain for many of you, we wanted to assure you that support is available to you, including free help with processing home insurance claims, rates relief, temporary accommodation assistance, and wider financial and mental health support. Please visit our social and wellbeing support page on OurAuckland to read more about how we may be able to assist you.
We’ve included some resources below that people in affected communities have told us are useful, so do check these out if you can.
Kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui.
The Balance App
The Balance app is a wonderful resource which helps you manage your mental health and improve stress, sleep, mood, and more. This app is free in your first year of using it. Download the app on the Apple Store or on Google Play.
‘What Matters Most’ Podcast - Vol X Looking After Yourself In The Face Of Natural Disasters
Hosted by Jacqui Maguire, a clinical psychologist, and Antonia Prebble, actor and presenter, in this episode Jacqui breaks down the three stages we typically go through following a natural disaster and how we can best look after ourselves – and one another – during these different periods. The pair also discuss what PTSD can look like, plus how to find a new routine, hope and gratitude in the wake of a major event. And, importantly they delve into exactly what we can do to care for and support children who are caught up in natural disasters.
Listen to this chat on Player FM or Apple podcasts.
‘After the Disaster’ Podcast
Hosted by disaster recovery expert, Dr Kate Brady, and with the support of the Australian Red Cross and the University of Melbourne, After the Disaster is another brilliant resource which gives you practical tips and evidenced-based advice on how to find your way through a disaster.
This includes tips for responding to questions like what should you expect? How do you look after yourself and the people around you? Why are relationships, the endless paperwork, emotions and parenting so hard right now? When are things going to feel normal again?
Listen to the podcast on Apple podcasts.
