Dunedin focusing on the five ways to wellbeing

Mental Health is everyone’s business! Dunedin focussing on the five ways to wellbeing this Mental Health Awareness Week.

Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 8-14th October and Dunedin is using the ‘Five ways to wellbeing’ (Give, Be Active, Keep Learning, Connect, Take Notice) alongside the local ‘Unlock your Wellbeing’ Theme. “We want our local Dunedin communities to celebrate that Te Taha Hinengaro, Mental Health, is everyone’s business. The organising committee has worked extremely hard this year to make sure everyone can be part of these fun and free events,” says Sarah Chisnall, co-facilitator and Health Promotion Specialist at WellSouth.

The week kicks off with a Launch Night at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery from 6:30pm, providing a chance to ‘Connect’. This free event features inspirational speakers Alesha Pyers and Peter Frost, and Suitcase Theatre, who will perform excerpts of their play ‘Mental Notes 2.0’, a collection of stories on the hearts, minds and faces of mental illness. There will also be opportunities for the public to purchase tickets ($15) for the full length performances of Mental Notes 2.0 on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, 7:30pm, at Playhouse Theatre.

There are also some art-focused activities throughout the week to encourage people to ‘Keep Learning’. Koputai Lodge in Port Chalmers is holding an open day at their cottage on Tuesday 9th October between 11am and 4pm. Members of the public are welcome to come along and have a go at art and craft activities, including jewellery making. During each week day, the public are invited to take part in an Interactive Mural located in Wall Street Mall. Local Professional Cartoonist and Muralist Brent Harpur will be facilitating the mural, encouraging people to ‘Take Notice’ and contribute to the mural. Whether it is by adding to the design or simply colouring in a section, everyone and anyone can take part. Brent Harpur wants “to collectively create something that the whole community can feel engaged in, and hope that people of all ages and abilities will pop down and help us create a giant work of art. Using words and images, we hope the public will use this opportunity to share their very own stories and dialogues associated with mental health and well-being.”

Mental health is everyone’s business and this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week promises to provide opportunities for all the public to get involved and nourish their mental health. To register for any of the events check out our Facebook page: Mental Health Awareness Week – Dunedin. The Dunedin events for Mental Health Awareness week are presented under the umbrella of the Dunedin Mental Health and Addictions Network.