MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 6 October 2016

Public invited to Picnic for Dunedin Launch of Mental Health Awareness Week

The public are being encouraged to come to the Octagon on Monday 10 October for a picnic to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week which runs from 10-16 October.

The local programme for the nationwide initiative is being launched with a lunchtime event incorporating mindfulness activities, information stalls, food and music. This year’s theme, set by the Mental Health Foundation, is ‘Connecting with nature’ and highlights the importance of the world around us in maintaining good mental health.

That could mean going for a bush walk with friends, gardening, or a host of other activities such as yoga or meditation, said spokesperson Grant Cooper. “The launch and other events during the week are a chance for people to think about their own wellbeing and the ways they can improve their mental health.”

The week would launch on Monday 10 October, World Mental Health Day, with a community event in the Octagon featuring live music, yoga and tai chi demonstrations and stalls from a variety of wellbeing and health and recreation services.

Organised by the Dunedin Mental Health and Addictions Network, network members hoped the event would encourage people to more openly discuss mental health and break the stigma and stereotypes around the issue.

“Mental health is everybody’s business. Everyone goes through times of stress or feeling down and it shouldn’t define our lives. It should be treated like a physical illness, you acknowledge there is an issue and you deal with it, or if you can’t, you get support so you can,” Mr Cooper said.

Many of the mental health support services available in Dunedin will be participating and providing information at the Octagon event which runs from 11am-2pm.

More information on Mental Health Awareness Week can be found at www.mhaw.nz

PROGRAMME ON 10 OCTOBER

11:00am Information stalls
11.30am Relax Kids
11:45am Music from Artsenta
12:00pm BBQ/picnic/music
12.15pm Dunedin Yoga Studio demonstration
12.30pm Singing with Namakau Nalumango
12.45pm Circus Club
1:00pm DJ Fadez
1.15pm Tai Chi demonstration
1.30pm Mindfulness with Dr Valentine
2:00pm Event ends

NB: If wet the event will be postponed to Wednesday 12 October.

END

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