New focus on mental health is so timely

How are you coping? It’s a familiar question we pose to each other these days. For me, it’s a question that has more meaning than the ritualistic “How are you?”, “I’m good thanks” back-and-forth.

When I ask “how are you coping?” I find that people tend to give a more honest answer — I’m genuinely interested in that answer, and I brace for the truth, whatever that may be.

Today is the start of Mental Health Awareness Week. Its timing is apt. The Delta outbreak that plunged the country into level 4 lockdown five weeks ago has also done untold damage to our country’s mental health.

People are not only hurting financially but emotionally. I heard clinical psychologist Karen Nimmo during a TV interview describe this lockdown as tough compared to last year’s, especially for those who felt that they didn’t have enough left in their “resilience tank”.

“We’re a long way from the land of teddy bears and sourdough and baking and TV competitions.”

It doesn’t have the novelty and the sense of pulling together as last year did, so drawing back the curtain on mental health this week couldn’t come at a better time.

This year’s theme is “Take time to ko¯rero/ma¯ te ko¯rero, ka ora — a little chat can go a long way”.

Talking does help, and that doesn’t necessarily mean to a professional but to a friend, a workmate, boss or wha¯nau member.

Reaching out is good for my mental health and I treasure the people who are there to listen.

Gone are the days when you were told to “buck up” if you were feeling down. Now our mental wellbeing is much more acknowledged and respected.

As Nimmo said: “Mental health is fragile. We must look after it”.