The OHS Hauora Council has marked Mental Health Awareness by running arts, crafts, and sports activities to support positivity and Hauora.

Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual campaign dedicated to helping Kiwis understand what supports their wellbeing and strengthens their mental health. With exam pressures mounting and for our Year 13 students preparing to leave the safety of school to begin new journeys, this can be an especially stressful time.

Suggestions to support mental health include:

Connect/ Me Whakawhanaunga - feeling connected to others and having a sense of belonging, promotes a feeling of safety, support and purpose.

Give/Tukua- Give is about kindness. Carrying out acts of kindness boosts our own happiness and overall well-being. Sharing acts of kindness and your time with others can strengthen relationships and spread positivity.

Be Active/ Me Kori Tonu- Being active is not only important for your physical well-being, but it is also a powerful mood booster.

Take Notice/ Me Aro Tonu- Practising mindfulness is beneficial to your mental health. Try and stay in the present moment and take note of the things that bring you joy. Take time to think about those things you can be grateful for.

Keep Learning/ Me Ako Tonu- Exercise your mind. Learn something new, join a class or a group. Trying new things creates a sense of achievement and stimulates your engagement with the world around you.

Thank you to the Hauora Council for organising fun activities that we could all enjoy together.