Waikato Herald
  • Waikato Herald home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Locations

  • Hamilton
  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Matamata & Piako
  • Cambridge
  • Te Awamutu
  • Tokoroa & South Waikato
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Weather

  • Thames
  • Hamilton
  • Tokoroa
  • Taumarunui
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Waikato News

Mental health tool launched in Hamilton

By WINTEC Journalism student Lucas Tainui
Hamilton News·
19 Sep, 2019 11:23 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Just a Thought project lead, Charlie David and clinical lead, Anna Elders give PM Jacinda Ardern and Minister of Health David Clark. Photo / Supplied

Just a Thought project lead, Charlie David and clinical lead, Anna Elders give PM Jacinda Ardern and Minister of Health David Clark. Photo / Supplied

With Mental Health Awareness Week taking place from September 23 to 29, the Government has been busy preparing in several ways.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Health Minister David Clark visited Hamilton-based Wise Group last week as it launched a new, free online mental health therapy tool for New Zealand.

The tool — called Just a Thought — offers courses relating to depression and anxiety.
There are plans to add more courses within the next two years such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), TeenSTRONG — a course aimed at teenagers, and more.

Ms Ardern and joint chief executive of the Wise Group, Jacqui Graham both paid tribute to George Salmond, a foundation Wise Trust board member who died this year.

Mr Salmond left a bequest to Just a Thought and Ms Ardern said that he had left a legacy embedded in the tool that will help thousands of New Zealanders.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Just a Thought Clinical Lead Anna Elders said that the demand for mental health services is under pressure, with some people having to wait far too long to receive help.

"The Wise Group was extremely concerned about the growing numbers of people not being able to access immediate psychological support to assist with their mental health and we knew we needed to find something that was effective, affordable and most importantly accessible to all."

The tool can be used individually or can be prescribed as a course by a health professional. Later, the GP/clinician will be able to monitor their progress through a secure login to the clinician dashboard.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Each course comes with six lessons that are available five days apart to ensure the individual has time to practise what the lessons have taught them.

Also, on the Governments agenda was appointing an initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.

Ms Ardern and Mr Clark announced details which they say will play a key role in driving better mental health in New Zealand.

It will be chaired by Hayden Wano who has more than 40 years' experience in mental health, community and medical services.

The initial commission will lay the groundwork to set up the permanent commission in February 2021.

This commission will provide independent scrutiny of the Government's progress in dealing with mental health, and promote collaboration between mental health and wellbeing organisations.

Ms Ardern says that they are taking mental health seriously and so did the previous commission.

"It was held in high regard and did a good job of providing leadership and accelerating progress across the sector.

"We want it back to hold us and future governments to account."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Waikato News

Waikato Herald

Second venomous sea snake washes ashore in Coromandel

12 Jul 06:00 AM
Waikato Herald

Home build dream shattered after business hacked and woman launders couple’s $150k

12 Jul 01:00 AM
Waikato Herald

Landslide sparks evacuations, roads closed, homes flooded after storm

12 Jul 12:43 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Waikato News

Second venomous sea snake washes ashore in Coromandel
Waikato Herald

Second venomous sea snake washes ashore in Coromandel

12 Jul 06:00 AM

These snakes are highly venomous – the public and pets should keep clear.

Home build dream shattered after business hacked and woman launders couple’s $150k
Waikato Herald

Home build dream shattered after business hacked and woman launders couple’s $150k

12 Jul 01:00 AM
Landslide sparks evacuations, roads closed, homes flooded after storm
Waikato Herald

Landslide sparks evacuations, roads closed, homes flooded after storm

12 Jul 12:43 AM
Legal hook means buyers risk losing thousands on some Kāinga Ora homes

Legal hook means buyers risk losing thousands on some Kāinga Ora homes

11 Jul 08:45 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Waikato Herald e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Waikato Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP