Mental Health Awareness Week
(18 - 24 September)

This year's theme is Five Ways, Five Days, continuing the Five Ways to Wellbeing practices.

We've pulled together some events and activities to celebrate each of these practices on a particular day of the week. From a wellbeing treasure hunt and free massages from our Massage Therapy kaimahi and ākonga, to open mic sessions, speaker events and a free BBQ, there’s something for everyone.  

The Five Ways to Wellbeing are five simple yet proven actions you can use everyday to help you find balance, build resilience and boost your wellbeing. These practices are backed by evidence and can be easily incorporated into your life, regardless of your situation.

Five Ways Five Days

1. Take notice / Me Aro Tonu

Take notice of the things around you, remember the simple things that give you joy. Me aro tonu ki ngā mea māmā noa i ngākau harikoa ai koe.

2. Give / Tukua

Give your time, your words, your presence. Tukua tew ā ki a koe, ō kupu, ko koe tonu.

3. Be active / Me Kori Tonu

Be active, do what you can. Whāia te mea ka taea e koe. Enjoy what you do. Kia pārekareka tāu i whai ai. Move your mood. Kia pai ake ō piropiro.

4. Connect / Me Whakawhanaunga

Connect, talk and listen. Me kōrero, me whakarongo. Be there. Me Whakawātea i a koe. Feel connected. Me rongo i te whanaungatanga.

5. Keep learning / Me Ako Tonu

Keep learning and embrace new experiences. Awhitia te wheako hou. See opportunities. Kimihia ngā ara hou. Surprise yourself. Me ohorere koe i a koe.

Find more info about the Five Ways to Wellbeing here >

 

Mental Health Awareness Week daily campus events

Come along and join us!

Date Time Location Theme Event and links

Mon 18 Sept 

12pm-1pm

The Hub

Take notice

Me Aro Tonu

Open mic – it’s your time to shine!

If you have a talent or skill you’d like to share, we’d love to have you involved. Bring your own instrument, or MP3 backing track. We’ll provide the microphone and the stage. 

Register in advance by emailing stacey.harris@op.ac.nz or just show up and register on the day! 

Wellbeing table activities

  • Mindfulness skills and tips
  • Apps for mindfulness
  • Colouring 

Don't miss it - add to your calendar!

  • Kaimahi - add to your calendar here 
  • Learners - add to your calendar here

Mon 18 Sept

12.15pm-12.30pm

The Hub

Take notice

Me Aro Tonu

 

Speaker – Julian O’Hagan (Physiotherapist and Bradcliff Breathing Instructor – Breathing Better)

Hear about the benefits to mental health of breathing well and learn some tips to help you achieve this. 

An introduction to Te Pae Ora

A new online hauora (wellbeing) hub created by Te Pūkenga. Stacey Harris will walk us through this new resource.

Don't miss it - add it to your calendar!

  • Kamahi - add to your calendar here 
  • Learners - add to your calendar here  

Tues 19 Sept

12pm-1pm

 

The Hub 

Give

Tukua  

 

Open mic – it’s your time to shine!

If you have a talent or skill you’d like to share, we’d love to have you involved. Bring your own instrument, or MP3 backing track. We’ll provide the microphone and the stage. 

Register in advance by emailing stacey.harris@op.ac.nz or just show up and register on the day! 

Free BBQ for ākonga

Come and grab a free feed provided by OPSA. 

  • Don't miss it - add to your calendar here

Wellbeing table activities

  • Give a compliment prompt
  • Volunteer South info 

Don't miss it - add to your calendar!

  • Kaimahi - add to your calendar here 
  • Learners - add to your calendar here
Tues 19 Sept

12.15pm - 12.30pm

The Hub

Give

Tukua 

 

Speaker – Volunteer South

Hear about the important volunteer work that Volunteer South do and learn how you can get involved. 

Don't miss it - add it to your calendar!

  • Kamahi - add to your calendar here 
  • Learners - add to your calendar here  
Wed 20 Sept

12pm-1pm

The Hub

Be active

Me Kori Tonu 

Open mic – it’s your time to shine!

If you have a talent or skill you’d like to share, we’d love to have you involved. Bring your own instrument, or MP3 backing track. We’ll provide the microphone and the stage. 

Register in advance by emailing stacey.harris@op.ac.nz or just show up and register on the day! 

Wellbeing table activities

  • Jigsaw/puzzles
  • Sports team info – sign up for touch or volleyball teams

Don't miss it - add to your calendar!

  • Kaimahi - add to your calendar here 
  • Learners - add to your calendar here
Wed 20 Sept

12.15pm- 12.30pm

The Hub

Be active

Me Kori Tonu

Speaker – Christine MacDonell (Unipol)

Hear all about what’s on at Unipol and why it’s important to stay active.  

Don't miss it - add it to your calendar!

  • Kamahi - add to your calendar here 
  • Learners - add to your calendar here  
Wed 20 Sept

All day

The Hub

Be active 

Me Kori Tonu

Unipol activities

If the weather is nice, Unipol will bring along some outdoor activities that you can get involved in. If the weather isn’t great, we’ll head inside for some indoors options!

Don't miss it - add it to your calendar!

  • Kaimahi - add to your calendar here 
  • Learners - add to your calendar here 
Thu 21 Sept

12pm-1pm

The Hub

Connect

Me Whakawhanaunga

Open mic – it’s your time to shine!

If you have a talent or skill you’d like to share, we’d love to have you involved. Bring your own instrument, or MP3 backing track. We’ll provide the microphone and the stage. 

Register in advance by emailing stacey.harris@op.ac.nz or just show up and register on the day! 

Wellbeing table

  • Conversation starter cards
  • Te Reo conversation info (from Te Wiki o te Reo Māori)

Don't miss it - add to your calendar!

  • Kaimahi - add to your calendar here 
  • Learners - add to your calendar here
Thu 21 Sept

12.15pm- 12.30pm

The Hub

Connect

Me Whakawhanaunga

Speaker – Steve Downey (OP Chaplain)

Learn about the importance of connecting with self, others, and place, and being present with those we love.

Don't miss it - add it to your calendar!

  • Kamahi - add to your calendar here 
  • Learners - add to your calendar here   
Fri 22 Sept

12pm-1pm

The Hub

Keep learning 

Me Ako Tonu

 

Open mic – it’s your time to shine! 

If you have a talent or skill you’d like to share, we’d love to have you involved. Bring your own instrument, or MP3 backing track. We’ll provide the microphone and the stage. 

Register in advance by emailing stacey.harris@op.ac.nz or just show up and register on the day! 

Wellbeing table

  • Zen tangles and Zen tangles guides
  • Felts and pre-cut cards
  • Koru designs

Don't miss it - add to your calendar!

  • Kaimahi - add to your calendar here 
  • Learners - add to your calendar here
Fri 22 Sept

12.15pm-12.30pm

The Hub

Keep learning 

Me Ako Tonu

 

Speaker – Paul Smith (Artsenta)

Artsenta is an award-winning art studio for people who are accessing support for a mental health or addiction issue. Hear all about the services they provide and how they can be accessed. 

An introduction to Te Pae Ora

A new online hauora (wellbeing) hub created by Te Pūkenga. Stacey Harris will walk us through this new resource. 

Don't miss it - add it to your calendar!

  • Kamahi - add to your calendar here 
  • Learners - add to your calendar here  

 

Mental Health Awareness Week on campus activities

Get involved!

Date Location Activity

All week

The Hub

Ways to Wellbeing Treasure Hunt 

10 small cards (like the 5 at the top of this page), will be hidden around The Hub during Mental Health Awareness Week. On those cards there is a single word handwritten on the bottom left. 

  1. Find all ten cards.
  2. Unscramble the ten-word sentence that they make (get a friend or tutor to help if you need it).
  3. Email the unscrambled hauora/wellbeing-related sentence to stacey.harris@op.ac.nz 

Correct answers will be entered in the draw to win a fabulous hauora pamper pack – including a free treatment at the student hair salon, a voucher for a facial at the student beauty salon AND a free massage at the student clinic. 

Competition closes at 5.00pm on Friday 22 September. 

Winner/s will be advised the following week. 

One entry per person. All welcome to enter!

Save the date! 

  • Kaimahi - add to your calendar here 
  • Learners - add to your calendar here 

Wed 20 Sept

Massage Clinic

Free massages for mental health! 

Please email david.mcquillan@op.ac.nz to book an appointment. Get in quick as we only have a limited number! 

In your email, please let us know the times you are available (between 9.30am – 5.00pm), your name, mobile number, and reason for wanting to receive a massage for mental health. This information will be strictly confidential. 

David will send you a confirmation of your appointment time to your mobile phone by the end of Tues 19 September. You can contact him on 021 28 00 if needed.

If you miss out on an appointment, we're also offering free relaxation massages in The Hub between 11.00am - 2.00pm (Mon - Fri). No need to book, just pop by. All welcome. 


Mental Health Awareness Week online events/resources

  1. We’ll be posting the daily practice online so you can check out the deeper meaning behind it and get a few ideas of how to incorporate it into your routine.
  2. Free webinars and resources brought to you by Groov. Find out more here.
  3. The Mental Health Awareness website is jam-packed with support and advice. There’s also loads of events happening around Aotearoa New Zealand and you can find them all on this website. Access it here

 


Published on 13 Sep 2023

Orderdate: 13 Sep 2023
Expiry: 13 Sep 2025