6 Ways To Reconnect This Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week is here, with this year’s theme being “Reconnect with the people and places that lift you up, hei pikinga waiora”.

Although we have coped with video calls, the past few years have taught us the value of kanohi kitea physical presence and its influence on our wellbeing.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, aim to take the time to reconnect with the people and places that were previously out of reach.

Talk about the stuff that's tough with Huffer

Huffer is supporting Mental Health Awareness Week and the Mental Health Foundation through their People Presence campaign, taglined 'Be Now, Be You and BeLong'.

The team at Huffer sat down to discuss staying connected and present in the moment with owner of Parade Ponsonby Bryan Anderson, NZ-based Korean singer Hanbee and Rwandan-Kiwi rapper Raiza Biza, exemplifying the need to make time to connect and talk about the deep and meaningful.

“If you’re comfortable with who you are you don’t need to fit in anywhere. Find people who make you feel like you don’t need to change yourself that’s what People Presence is about,” says Raiza Biza.

Huffer's People Presence capsule is available in store and online, with $10 from every shirt sold being donated to the Mental Health Foundation.

Download some mindfulness apps

Meditation and mindfulness have never been easier to access with apps like Aīo, Headspace and Calm.

These apps allow you to focus on your own wellbeing goals. Whether it be a better night's sleep, or taking up meditation as a practice, there's something for everyone on the app store.

Take an ao Māori approach to wellbeing

Māori Public Health organisation Hāpai Te Hauora is once again running an online wānanga for Mental Health Awareness Week, Wānanga o Whitiora.

Wānanga o Whitiora takes an ao Māori approach to wellbeing, exploring ways to foster healthy wairua, ngākau, hinengaro, tinana, and most importantly whānau.

Check out their Instagram for daily tips to connect with each pou, and sign up to join Sunday's online wānanga here.

Stay connected with Noteit

With the widget Noteit, you can create drawings for a partner that are then immediately displayed on their home screen.

Regardless of what is keeping you apart from someone work, distance, or time you can still let them know you are thinking about them throughout the day.

Learn about mindful journaling

Jump in on a mindful journaling workshop this Thrusday at 6pm. Journaling is a great tool for de-stressing and processing emotion and Mental Health Awareness Week is a great time to pick up the practice with support from mindfulness and journaling coach Loren Luisa.

The 30-minute session is focused on "reflections and intention setting".

Pick up a colouring book

Adult colouring books are a great tool for de-stressing and dedicating space to being creative.

The Mindfulness Moments Colouring Book: Anti-stress Colouring and Activities for Busy People by Emma Farrarons, $20, is available from PaperPlus and is sized to be carried in your pocket or bag so you can keep it handy to you throughout the day.