This week, New Zealanders are being encouraged to check in on their friends and family as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from Monday to Sunday.
Matt Doocey, the country’s first Minister for Mental Health, says it’s a great time to connect with others and see how they are doing.
The theme for 2025 is Top Up Together, focusing on the “Five Ways of Wellbeing”. These are: connect, give back, be active, take notice, and keep learning. Each day of the week highlights one of these actions to help improve mental health.
On Monday, the theme was “connect”, encouraging people to spend time with others and feel a sense of belonging. Tuesday focused on “give”, where acts of kindness can make both the giver and the receiver feel good. Wednesday’s theme, “be active”, reminded people that movement helps both the body and the mind.
Thursday was about “take notice”, which means being mindful of the world around you and paying attention to your feelings. The week ends on Friday with “keep learning”, encouraging people to try new things and share the experience with friends or whānau.
Minister Doocey said doing these five things every day can improve mental well-being. He also urged people to visit the Mental Health Foundation’s website to learn more or find events in their area.
The message of the week is clear: don’t be afraid to reach out. Talking to someone can make a big difference, especially for those who may be feeling stressed or down.
