Coffee breaks aim to boost wellbeing
Family centre encourages power of conversation and making sure people who may be struggling are heard
Your wellbeing matters. “Mahi te ora, do life. Life is about living, it’s about doing and never giving up.”
That’s the message from the Taupō Family Centre for those living with family members at risk of taking their own life.
Taupō Family Centre has a whole week of conversations planned for next week, in the lead up to World Suicide Prevention Day on Saturday, September 10.
General manager Jackie Hill says this year staff are meeting at coffee carts around Taupō and Tūrangi and promoting wellbeing while supporting local coffee businesses.
“We are inviting you to take your colleagues, whānau or friends for a wellbeing break.
“Meet us at a coffee cart, check-in and connect.”
On Wednesday afternoon, National MP Matt Doocey, spokesman for mental health and suicide will be “checking in” at the Steaming Bean coffee cart on Lake Terrace.
Jackie says he will be interested in meeting whānau, hearing stories and wanting to connect about mental health issues.
Suicide prevention is one of the holistic services offered by the Taupō Family Centre,
which also offers a traumaresponsive whānau-centred team of social workers, counsellors, whānau workers, and youth workers.
Jackie says listening is a key to living with whā nau who are unwell or living with a disability. She says providing them quality time and care will make a real difference.
“The power of conversation can de-escalate a situation, particularly when the person feels heard.
“They need to feel that someone is going to take them seriously.”
If talking isn’t working then the next approach is to try distraction with, exercise, music, having a shower, going for a walk, or encouraging them to connect and communicate with you or someone else.
“Nurturing that person is nurturing their wellbeing,” Jackie says.
If nurturing isn’t working, then Jackie says it’s time to put a plan in place, by calling an 0800 helpline, the person’s counsellor, or getting one of their friends or another whānau member to speak with the individual on the phone.
“At this point the unwell person’s response can escalate or de-escalate.
“Listening is important, if someone is threatening suicide it’s important to ring the police or emergency services .”
Jackie says a weekly routine is helpful when someone is not coping and planning is imperative with positive events and engagements scheduled to look forward to.
“Doing life can be one task per day, it doesn’t have to be big, the task might be getting out of bed.”
Having a creative project to do is also important for wellbeing, gets you moving and increases motivation and mood.
Jackie says everyone in the household should have their own creative project and suggests
making it something small and achievable.
“You could start with making a dream board, somewhere to pin your hopes and dreams.”
Having your own space is also essential, especially where there is a large number of people living in the home.
“When that space is unavailable then you could contact a friend, have a chat and connect with others.”
Resources are available at each site. Jackie says if you would like to pay a coffee forward, you can pay for one at the coffee carts.