Te Awamutu leads the way for youth mental health

Seventeen people from Te Awamutu – including members of local Police, schools and a youth trust – were the first in south Waikato to complete a Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Aotearoa workshop last week.

The two-day training, held in the Te Awamutu Rugby Sports and Recreation Club on August 1 and 8, was run by Mates Matters NZ.

The Youth MHFA Aotearoa programme equips adults with the knowledge, skills and confidence to recognise and respond when a young person is experiencing a mental health challenge or mental health crisis.

"Mental health is huge within our communities and there are a lot of pressures on our youth,” said Constable Kathryn Payne, a school community officer with NZ Police who attended the workshop with a colleague. In her role, she supports around 80 schools in the Waipā and south Waikato region.

“I know that a lot of youth are struggling more and more with mental health, and we need to have strategies around how to best to support them and talk to them about it.”

According to the 2022/23 New Zealand Health Survey, over half of all New Zealanders aged 15 to 24 experience anxiety or depression. Young people experiencing moderate to high distress have nearly doubled since 2016/17. Māori, Pacific, disabled and rainbow youth are more vulnerable.

The workshop focused on how adults can understand and support the mental health of intermediate and high school aged children, with a five-step mental health action plan to follow if needed.

It covered topics such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, problematic substance abuse, non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal thoughts and behaviours, panic attacks, traumatic events and psychosis.

A group of kaimahi from Ko Wai Au Trust, a not-for-profit organisation supporting rangatahi, also attended the workshop.

“It was awesome, I loved it,” said Ko Wai Au Trust co-founder and general manager Georgina Christie. “We all took away some good learnings, good validation that we are on the right track, and some good reminders.”

Co-founder Andrew Christie also noted that said that talking about mental health was important to reducing stigma in the community.

Te Awamutu Intermediate learning support coordinator Karyn Kay said the workshop was “really relevant”, reflecting what many schools are seeing with increased levels of anxiety, along with social, behavioural and learning challenges among students.

Her highlights included learning about some of the more complex mental health challenges, alongside some practical tools for supporting young people.

“I enjoyed learning strategies of what I can say to children when they come to me and are upset, to help them manage their anxiety.”

Constable Payne said the workshop was “engaging” and reinforced what she knew but also gave her more confidence in her conversations with a robust plan to follow.

“They also taught us that you’re not the mental health expert, but as a Youth Mental Health First Aider, you are there to support them.”

Workshop co-facilitator Sarah Christensen, who is also the programme manager for Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa, said it was fantastic to see so many people from Te Awamutu come together to support youth.

“Everyone on the course has a huge passion and heart for the young people they work with, and we hope this training will make a difference in the lives of young people in the local Waipā community.”

As Mental Health First Aiders, they join more than 7500 adults across the country who have been trained in one of the MHFA Aotearoa programmes. The evidence-based programme is licensed by Te Pou in New Zealand and has been adapted from an internationally recognised programme taught in 29 countries.

Christensen said that the Youth MHFA Aotearoa launched last year, and she hopes that the programme will continue to grow, with the aim of training more Youth MHFA Aotearoa instructors nationwide who can deliver the programme in schools, sports clubs and communities.

“As adults, we all have a role to play to support young people with mental health challenges. Recognising the signs and having a conversation can save lives.”

Christensen and co-facilitator Sarah Keelty from Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora Waikato have decades of experience working in the mental health and addictions sector, something valued by workshop participants.

“When you asked a specific question, they could answer it with practical advice because they’ve been in those situations,” said Andrew Christie.

Christensen applauded the staff at Ko Wai Au Trust, Te Awamutu Intermediate, NZ Police and others who completed the Youth MHFA Aotearoa course.

“Thank you for supporting our rangatahi and for leading the way to change youth mental health outcomes in our community.”

Georgina Christie said one of the highlights of the Youth MHFA workshop was collaborating and building stronger relationship with others working with young people in the region.

“At the end of the day, we not only want to be able to support the rangatahi and whānau we work with, but we all want to make a better and stronger community.”

• To learn more about Youth Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa, visit mentalhealthfirstaid.nz or email mhfa@tepou.co.nz.
• To find out more about Mates Matter NZ, visit www.matesmatter.org.nz