A new challenge that aims to boost staff mental well-being this Mental Health Awareness Week (September 18-24) will also help to generate funding to support mental health in Queenstown Lakes.

The Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) Challenge was created by the Headlight charity with support from Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group. 

“We wanted to find an easy, practical way to share mental health education across the region and get people on board to proactively care for their wellbeing.” Headlight chief executive Anna Dorsey said.

The MHAW Challenge kit is available for free on the Headlight website.

It supports this year’s MHAW ‘Five Ways, Five Days’ theme and focuses on helping people put the Mental Health Foundation’s evidence-based Five Ways to Wellbeing framework into practice in fun and engaging ways, Anna said.

It also provides ideas for how staff can raise money for mental health education projects.

Millbrook people and culture manager Louise Baines said the challenge kit had sparked a range of activities.

“We'll be holding a shared lunch, asking team members to 'pass it on' to help get people engaged in the five ways to wellbeing, and are also planning fundraising opportunities with members to help us to give back to the mental wellbeing of our wider community,” she said.

“We encourage all local businesses to get involved." 

Anna said she believes it is critical, particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, that mental health remains a priority for businesses and the wider community.

“By creating this kit using the Five Ways, we’re helping business leaders create a win-win – follow these easy, free and low cost ways to support the mental health of their staff and help the wider community at the same time."

Organisations and businesses can sign up for the challenge via the Headlight website here and download the kit for free.