COVID-19 mental health support begins
Hon Dr David Clark
Minister of
Health
PĀNUI
PĀPĀHO
MEDIA STATEMENT
A range of support is being rolled out across New
Zealand to help people look after their mental health during
COVID-19 Health Minister David Clark said this morning.
“COVID-19 has brought a lot of uncertainty into our lives and many of us will be feeling some level of distress or worry about the future,” said Health Minister David Clark.
“We want people to know that they are not alone, and many Kiwis will be feeling this way. This is completely normal and the messages in the campaign launched today tell us that it’s okay not to feel all right, all of the time,” said David Clark.
One initiative launched today was the Getting through together campaign which shares ways to help Kiwis cope with the stress of COVID-19.
“The campaign has been developed by All Right? who produced the world-leading disaster-recovery programme following the Canterbury earthquakes, in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation.
Getting through together also includes tools for parents, dubbed Sparklers at Home, which provides support for parents to talk with their primary-school aged children about their own mental health and wellbeing.
“The original Sparklers initiative has been hugely successful at supporting and promoting the wellbeing of young Cantabrians following the Canterbury earthquakes, so I’m pleased to see that this has been extended to help all Kiwi parents with their tamariki.
“It’s important to remember that a lot of the usual places people might go to for support, like your doctor, are still available. It might just be a phone call or an online video link instead.
“I am also
critically aware of the impact that COVID-19 is having on
our frontline health workers. Many of the employers provide
mental health support for their staff, and the Government is
looking at what additional support is needed for our health
workforce,” said David Clark.
Further
supports are being finalised and will be announced this
week. This includes telephone support as well as app and
online resources and supports.
Specific information
and mental health support campaigns are also being designed
for Māori, Pacific, older people, people with chronic
health conditions or compromised immunity and new mothers.
All Right? was designed in
partnership with Canterbury DHB and the Mental Health
Foundation.
Video and social assets:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/laehqtahx5skojq/AADL96U-VdEvWoWuWuosj1CYa?dl=0
•
An interview with Kate Montgomery
• An
interview with Grandfather, George Scott (94)
•
Examples of the social media campaign can be found here:
Campaign links and
information
Getting through together: www.allright.org.nz/campaigns/getting-through-together
Sparklers
at home: www.sparklers.org.nz/parenting