Whanganui DHB wants mental health awareness every week

The poster the DHB is using to promote mental health wellbeing.

The Whanganui District Health Board says it has seen a large increase in the number of young people in the area presenting with mental health problems.

The DHB is promoting the idea of doing at least one thing a week that looks after mental wellbeing as part of Mental Health Awareness week, which starts on Monday .

Whanganui DHB health promoter Sarah Hawken said youth mental wellbeing was a particularly significant issue in the Whanganui district at the moment.

"Some people working on the frontline of mental health services noticed a large increase in the number of young people presenting with mental health problems.

"Additionally, youth were reporting mental health issues much younger than they were before," she said.

"This shows how important it is to start promoting mental wellbeing early in children's lives, so they can learn resilience. They can then apply these skills later in life."

The DHB said it had been putting extra resources into working more closely with community-based health providers.

This included providing education and peer support for GPs, practice nurses and primary care workers who support people with mental health needs.

To embrace this year's theme of doing something for mental wellbeing every week, staff from the Infant, Child, Adolescent Mental Health and Addiction Service were planning a team walk around Virginia Lake.

They'll also give out seedlings, donated by the Whanganui Garden Centre, with positive affirmations attached for clients coming through the service during the week.

Hawken said getting in touch with nature was an ideal way for people to lift their spirits on a daily basis.

"Whanganui DHB is keen to see its community take time over the week to enhance mental health and wellbeing, and embrace the theme 'Let nature in'.

"However, we also want to stress that you don't have to wait until October each year to make mental wellbeing your priority. Every week should be a mental health awareness week."

*If you need someone to talk to, free call or text 1737 24 hours a day. Doing so allows you to talk (or text with) a trained counsellor. For more information and activities for the Mental Health Awareness Week and every day of the year, visit www.mentalhealth.org.nz