Mana Ake – Stronger for Tomorrow is a holistic school-based mental wellbeing programme that helps give primary and intermediate school-aged tamariki the resilience and support they need, when they need it, to cope with the challenges that life can throw at them.
It includes whole-of-classroom, group-based and individual programmes and supports. It also provides advice, guidance and workshops for parents, whānau and teachers.
Launched in Canterbury in 2018, Mana Ake supported children living in earthquake-affected communities in Canterbury and Kaikoura. It has supported more than 14,700 children across those districts.
The programme has since been established on the West Coast and is in the process of being established in Counties, Bay of Plenty, Lakes, and Northland. Dr Verrall said one of its real strengths was that it was co-designed by the local community it’s tailored to support.
The kaimahi delivering the programme have a range of skills and help tamariki learn skills such as coping with change or challenges, managing their emotions, building positive relationships, and overcoming grief and loss.
“I have heard from local GPs and community providers in the affected areas about what they need in this recovery. We are acting on those requests which is why this Budget also provides $6.1 million to cover community, primary and residential care,” Dr Verrall said.
This funding provides for workforce relief for locum GP, pharmacy and nursing staff, an increase in funding for air ambulance for an additional six months and improved access to online GP, community health, mental health and addiction, and registered nurse consultations.
“We also know the devastating weather events have made it harder for some people to get to medical appointments or for specialists to get into affected regions to provide care.
“In response to this the Cyclone Budget package also covers $8.9 million in funding for front-line health providers supporting isolated communities in Northland, Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay
“This includes funding for air and road transport helping people get to appointments, medical outreach, and other hospital services for isolated communities.
“It also funds alternative provision of acute healthcare, and urgent repairs to hospital facilities as a result of the impact of the North Island weather events,” Dr Verrall said.
An additional $1.7 million in funding will go toward leasing suitable vehicles to provide access to services, and diesel generators for the operation of health services while repairs are undertaken.
“Finally, $8.3 million is being provided for the hauora Māori disaster response. This is for urgent services that support whānau wellbeing and the community to recover from the impacts of North Island weather events.
“The health reforms are supporting the regional and national support systems that kick in during a state of emergency.
“This is the vision we have for our health system, where regional and national staff work closely together, tailoring the response to each specific local community or disaster,” Minister Verrall said.
