Fun and games for Mental Health Week

On the rope from front, Shane Cook, Thomas Pene, Dustin Pene at Kaikohe's Top Town-type games to mark Mental Health Week. Photo / Debbie Beadle

There is generally a relatively sedate pattern to annual awareness campaigns, but that was not the case when Kaikohe and Kaitaia marked Mental Health Awareness Week.

Kaikohe's contribution included a day of Top Town-type games at Memorial Park, featuring tug-o-war, relay races, board-walking and more, along with bouncy castles, face-painting and other standard fare.

The day began with a hikoi up Broadway to the park and ended with a shared lunch enjoyed by about 300.

Mental health awareness days date back to the 1990s, but it is only in the past few years that they have become as energetic as they are now. And the event continues to grow in terms of competitor numbers, involving not only mental health service providers and clients but members of the wider community.

During the week teams were organised by Ngati Kahu Social and Health Services (Kaitaia), Arataki Ministries (Whangarei), Northland District Health Board, North Point Trust (Kaikohe), Ngati Hine Health Trust (Kawakawa), and Te Mana Oranga (Kaikohe and Kaitaia).

The day was effectively non-competitive, but Arataki Ministries was named winner of the tug-o-war.

Reg Petersen said the major aim was to engage with the community and encourage understanding of mental health issues.

"As soon as mental health is mentioned people will back away, often because they don't understand.

"It's also about engaging with people who might have addiction and mental health issues, and having some fun."

Meanwhile Ngati Kahu Social Services hosted a similar event in Kaitaia the next day, beginning with a hikoi through Kaitaia to Te Whaia te Ora Whare, followed by games and activities on the Kaitaia Intermediate School field.