Programmes We Fund

Together, the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand and Movember are working to create awareness of depression and anxiety, and to break down stigma – which can sometimes prevent men from speaking up and getting the help they need.

Funds raised by the Movember community are dedicated to improving the mental health of men throughout New Zealand.

The facts

• One in six New Zealanders will experience a major depressive disorder at some time in their life.
• One in seven young New Zealanders experience a major depressive disorder before the age of 24.
• Depression increases the risk of suicide by 20 times.

The funds raised through the 2011 Movember campaign have been used to significantly increase awareness of men’s depression through the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.



Example of Movember Funded Programs

Men in Canterbury

The Canterbury Men’s Centre with support from Movember funding and the Mental Health Foundation is about to release its popular publication ‘The Blokes Book’.  The second edition will distribute over 65,000 copies in Canterbury, showing men what is available in health and social services in the region.  This has become an invaluable resource for men in Canterbury.

As the rebuild and recovery continues for the region, constant change is way of life with movement of sporting, hobby and other recreational activities in flux.  The Canterbury Men’s Centre is responding with a ‘Fun for Older Men’ project that aims to make it easy for men to find relevant activities with emphasis on fun and entertainment in the shaky city. 





All resources will be available for download from the website www.canmen.org.nz
 

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Peer Zone

Peer Zone is a NZ-based nationwide initiative by and for people with experience of mental distress and is makes a real difference to people’s lives.

Peer Zone involves 17, three-hour face-to-face group sessions for people using mental health services. The sessions cover four topics – understanding ourselves, empowering ourselves, working with our wellbeing and connecting with the world.

A website also provides a place for group participants to chat online with each other, with facilitators and with people in other groups outside group sessions. Resources on the website address stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental distress such as finding and keeping a home and enhancing relationships.

Mental Health Foundation chief executive Judi Clements says the material covered in the Peer Zone group sessions aligns with the organisation’s Five Ways to Wellbeing – give, be active, keep learning, connect and take notice – and with peer leadership.

The Mental Health Foundation with the support of Movember has sponsored Peer Zone to develop learning packages that best suit the male perspective. And, being able to share experiences with other men who have had a similar journey will help both participants and facilitators.

Peer Zone developer Mary O’Hagan says the aim is to address disruption to life narratives that happens as a result of having mental health problems.

http://www.peerzone.info/

 

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Get A Life

Get A Life is a new programme led by the Mental Health Foundation in partnership with Canterbury Men’s Centre that will get Canterbury men focusing on their mental health and wellbeing. The Christchurch earthquakes have a continuing impact on wellbeing, and this project will support men to look after their mental health, and to recover and flourish.

A wide range of men with a variety of life experiences to participate. The project will identify things that men are already doing with room to create new ideas and shape them into projects that have measurable mental health benefits.

Get A Life will recruit men from a variety of places to form project teams and develop challenges. Teams will engage with their communities to choose a project to focus on, such as building a community garden or a playground, making a large-scale piece of art, or designing pop-up stores – the possibilities are endless!

Working together will create opportunities for participants to improve their health through effective mechanisms like the Five Ways to Wellbeing.

Get A Life will promote men’s discussion of emotional mental wellbeing for new audiences. Local champions of men’s health will be involved in the project, and will encourage men to address their concerns by connecting to services in the community or beginning conversations with their friends and family. Health gains will be tracked and the effects of the programme evaluated.
 

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Hauora Tane – Maori men’s health and wellbeing

Maori in general and Maori men in particular, are significantly over represented in poor mental health statistics including suicide and suicide attempts.  

In 2010, the Mental Health Foundation commissioned a paper Hei Puawaitanga mo tatou katoa (Flourishing from a Maori perspective) to inform our work with Maori to help turn this situation around.  

Hei Puawaitanga mo tatou katoa identified that for Maori, a world view of positive mental health needed to consider:

•    Relationship with the external environment
•    Inter-generational focus
•    Collectivism
•    Health
•    Kowhiri - Choice

Hei Puawaitanga mo tatou katoa is now being used as a guiding document to inform the Mental Health Foundation and our partner organisations, Hapai Te Hauora Tapui and Te Rau Matatini, to actively change the mental health outcomes for Maori men in Aotearoa/New Zealand.  With the active support of Movember, the partnership has developed a specific programme that will deliver:

•    Increased potential for Maori men to flourish
•    Information and support for Maori men and their whanau/family wellbeing strategies for parents, children, grandparents, and the wider whanau
•    Increased understanding of the mental health risks that Maori men face
•    An increased awareness and practice of culture as a strength

Initially the programme will focus on the use of the haka and other cultural practices to get Maori men and their whanau talking about mental health and wellbeing
To support this work there will also be the development of specific resources for Maori such as the 5 Ways to Wellbeing that will incorporate a Te Ao Maori world view.