The Hits Bay of Plenty host Will Johnston to MC Fluro Fest

The Hits host Will Johnston. Photo / File

Local radio host Will Johnston is helping shine a light on mental illness and encouraging people to speak up through a family event.

Johnston is due to MC upcoming Fluro Fest, which is an annual event to help promote and celebrate mental wellbeing.

The Hits Bay of Plenty 95FM day show host said he was thrilled to be involved in a day promoting mental health and wellbeing that the whole family can attend together.

Fluro Fest is usually held at the start of Mental Health Awareness Week but it was postponed due to Covid-19 alert levels this year.

It will feature family-friendly activities including laughing yoga, urban dance, Circus in a Flash circus workshop, Happy Bus and the Crazy Choir and giant games.

For Johnston mental health was "something he personally understands".

"I was diagnosed with tinnitus [ringing in the ears] about 11 years ago and found myself in dark places. I really struggled with depression so it is great to be part of a community event that is shining a light on mental illness and being part of something that may encourage people to have chats about how they are feeling.

"In the past, there has been a bit of stigma about not having kids involved because it may be a little bit too much for them. For me, it seems like there has been a change and people are now aware of the importance of mental health and will talk about it more openly."

He said it was exciting to have such community events taking place now the country was in alert level 1.

"It's a festival that is a bunch of fun for everyone, and anyone can come – you don't need to have had a mental health issue. If you want to talk about mental health you can, and if not you don't have to."

Bay of Plenty District Health Board Mental Health and Addiction Services portfolio manager Caleb Putt said Fluro Fest was an opportunity to move away from the idea that mental illness was something that isolated people.

Putt said holding the event allowed the community to connect.

"The purpose of the event is to engage the community around the five ways of wellbeing as part of mental health awareness and how in connecting as a community as part of this fun event, and ongoing in other ways too, we all support each other's wellbeing."

The event is organised by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board, Tauranga City Council and Tauranga Youth Development Team.

It is being held at Tauranga's Memorial Park in the field next to the Rowing Club on October 18 from 1pm to 4 pm.