Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand

Note: This content discusses abuse, and may be triggering for some readers. At 4pm yesterday, a landmark report was published. It held nearly 3,000 testimonies, was over 3,000 pages long, and incorporated nearly 100 days’ worth of public hearings. But it wasn’t its size or length that made Whanaketia, the Royal Commission of Inquiry’s report into Abuse in Care significant. It was significant, because it publicly acknowledged that hundreds of thousands of unimaginable acts of cruelty and negligence, towards our nation’s babies, children, young people and adults, had been carried out by the State and faith-based institutions since 1950. Our hearts go out to the at least 200,000 people in Aotearoa New Zealand who were abused, and many more grossly neglected, when they should have been cared for and kept safe. Our thoughts are with the many survivors who spoke at public hearings; who submitted documents to the Inquiry; who shared their stories; and with those who were simply unable to.  We hold in our thoughts especially those who shared their stories, at any time of their lives, and were not believed or heard. Our aroha lies with survivors who deserved redress, and are not here to see this report made public. And it lies with the whānau and friends of survivors, who supported them both when the report was published yesterday, and every day. It’s important that our nation takes away key learnings from this report, and actions them, both to redress wrongs and to actively protect and keep safe New Zealanders in state care today. Mā te whakātu, ka mohio, mā te mohio ka marama, mā te marama ka matau, mā te matau ka ora.  Pa Henare Tate With discussion comes knowledge, with knowledge comes light and understanding, with light and understanding comes wisdom, with wisdom comes wellness.

Calling all filmmakers! 🎬📢 This November we’re rolling out the red carpet for mental health at the second annual Aotearoa Mental Health Film Festival, and we’re currently calling for submissions! Help us shift perspectives on mental health and be a part of this important kaupapa – send this to a filmmaker you know and let’s inspire Aotearoa together. ✨ Film submissions close 1 September, full details on our website: https://lnkd.in/gUDSJwRP

Our amazing People and Culture Advisor, Jenny Knight is hosting a workshop next week. Check the link for details!

Pink Shirt Day 2025 is on Friday 16 May! 🌸 Mark your calendar and join us again as we help create an Aotearoa where everyone is educated, equipped, and empowered to take on bullying. 🌈 Each year is another opportunity to introduce the kaupapa to more tangata across the motu and do our part to fill our schools, workplaces, and whares with kindness. Mā te wā!

🚨 PINK SHIRT DAY 2024 HAS NOW RAISED MORE THAN $1 MILLION! 🚨 This incredible koha will help us provide free bullying prevention resources, fund InsideOUT rainbow-inclusive workshops in kura, develop a national wellbeing initiative for youth led by youth, and continue to build a movement of Upstanders – people who can recognise bullying and do something about it. We have so much whakawhetai for each and every one of you for taking part and making this one of our biggest Pink Shirt Days yet. 😍 A massive shout to all these mīharo organisations for coming together to make this happen: Cotton On Group, Cotton On Foundation, TBI Health Group New Zealand, MediaWorks NZ, oOh!, PHANTOM BILLSTICKERS, VAST Billboards, Warner Bros. Discovery, New Zealand Media & Entertainment (NZME), LUMO Digital Outdoor.

Pink Shirt Day had HUGE reach this year – all thanks to you! 🙏 Research undertaken by Ipsos shows that more people are aware of Pink Shirt Day and its value in Aotearoa. 📈 Most importantly, people are becoming more familiar with what bullying is and what to do when they witness it. Mīharo! 👚 Remember, the kaupapa is available all year round – with free resources, activities, and information available at pinkshirtday.org.nz.

The past few years have been challenging for Aotearoa, with extreme weather events, rising costs, and political divides affecting us all. Now more than ever, we need to come together – which is why this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) theme is ‘Community is… what we create together’. 💙 And we know how powerful this can be. We recently commissioned research to understand the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle and other extreme weather events on wellbeing. Over 1,500 people from affected regions revealed a clear theme: community is the key to getting through tough times. Join us this MHAW (23 – 29 September) as we spotlight stories of community, and provide you with the resources, activities, and tools to connect with and create your own. 💌 Sign up to the mailing list now: https://lnkd.in/gwpuEA_E

Over 50% of New Zealanders aged 15-24 experience anxiety or depression – and the number who can’t access support when they need it has risen by 77%. Read that again. We need a national action plan to address this youth mental health crisis and the mental health and addiction system overall – a plan that’s been needed for many years. And we’re challenging the Minister of Mental Health and Youth Affairs, Matt Doocey, to deliver this plan to the public by 30 June, 2025. Read more in our press release below: https://lnkd.in/gfXER6dG

We are excited to share our heartfelt thanks to warehousing and fulfilment company, Online Distribution for their recent $25,000 donation to the Mental Health Foundation! 🎉 With 200 staff, Online Distribution understands the critical role that a sense of belonging plays in fostering good mental health. Last month they took part in Pink Shirt Day, exemplifying their commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for their team. 💖👚 Their long-standing support means the world to us, and we deeply value their dedication to the wellbeing of both their employees and the wider community. Together, we can make a difference. Thank you, Online Distribution! 🙏 #MentalHealthFoundation #OnlineDistribution #CommunitySupport #MentalWellbeing #PinkShirtDay

Join us this July for Mindfulness Month. Take on weekly challenges to focus on the present and discover the magic of mindfulness. Use the experience to help raise vital funds to uplift the mental health and wellbeing of our rangatahi/young people. Sign up for Mindfulness Month now: https://lnkd.in/g2u6x7xE 💚