Wellness kete online to help nurture mental health

Doug Rehu with daughters Eva, 5 and Zoe, 7.

Doug Rehu wants to get into people's places, their faces and their homes. And with very good reason.

Doug is passionate about wellness and mental health and has developed an online tool to send positive messages and a wellness kete (strategy) to people through social media.

The former teacher and Ministry of Education technology facilitator set up charity Choose Life a year ago after suffering mental health issues following a marriage break-up. He is now launching Creating Consciousness, investing his own time and money in a bid to help bring down the suicide rates and improve overall wellness in Hawke's Bay and the rest of New Zealand.

"There is a massive need. I want to deliver helpful strategies, tips and tricks in all areas of wellness, but the key focus is definitely mental health because there isn't enough, or anyone leading the way, to change the way things are being done in reducing or stopping suicide or mental health issues in Hawke's Bay."

Doug spent 16 years as a teacher and is now a Ministry of Education technology facilitator, with his own business Future Focussed Learning Solutions Limited. He says he has had a passion for personal learning and development since he was 27.

"I have been growing that knowledge base since — I am now 38. I created the wellness kite in all areas of hauora or wellness, but the particular focus is on taha hinengaro [mental health]."

Doug believes our high suicide rates are the result of colonisation.

"It is shown in research, statistics and the latest updates and reports. My approach is to get into the faces, places and homes of people on the social media platform with consistent positive messages and strategies."

He believes we are still using old tools or ways — whakamā (shame and embarrassment) — to fix new world problems. "And especially not using technology and social media to its maximum potential to deliver a message to audiences."

His aim is to improve people's lives with a kete full of strategies to take on today's busy, changing world. He has created the social media catchphrase of "greatness" to encourage people to believe in themselves.

"It's to create their own best selves, for themselves or as I refer to, their 'greatness'. My end outcome is to save lives through people choosing life and having strategies to get out of a bad space and into a good space, and to equip our next generation with these tools and strategies to live a great life."

• For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/consciousnessnapier

WHERE TO GET HELP: If you are worried about your or someone else's mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or local mental health provider. However, if you or someone else is in danger or endangering others, call police immediately on 111.
OR IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ELSE:0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) or free text 4357 (HELP) (available 24/7) https://www.lifeline.org.nz/services/suicide-crisis-helpline YOUTHLINE: 0800 376 633
NEED TO TALK? Free call or text 1737 (available 24/7)
KIDSLINE: 0800 543 754 (available 24/7)
WHATSUP: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
DEPRESSION HELPLINE: 0800 111 757 or TEXT 4202