Mental Health Awareness Week

There's no better time than Mental Health Awareness Week to explore some of the wellbeing resources available to our NZDF community. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Catch Chief Mental Health Officer LTCOL Steve Kearney's top tips on checking in with a mate, connecting with someone who is feeling down, and expressing gratitude.  
• Download the free NZDF ResCo (Resilience Coach) app, developed specifically to reinforce skills that will help keep you at the top of your game. Available for download on both Apple and Android phones. Find out more about ResCo here. 
• Watch The Science and Practice of Resilience – a presentation to the NZDF by Dr Lucy Hone, best-selling Kiwi author and resilience researcher. Click here to learn how to build your resilience recipe, overcome the negativity bias, and much more.
• Managing the wellbeing of yourself and your staff: A guide for NZDF Leaders was designed by WGCDR Carolyn Pezaro to help avoid burnout and craft a better work life. Click here for the resource.
• Not sure what the buzz about mindfulness is? NZDF psych, SQNLDR Carsten Grimm addresses mindfulness myths and misunderstandings in this engaging webinar, ‘Is Mindfulness for me?’
• Game to give it a go? NZDF physio and yoga instructor, MAJ Raylene Grant, walks you through a five minute meditation here.
• Could the vibe in your unit or team do with a lift? Click here for ideas on how to encourage a positive workplace culture, and here to learn about 7 steps to creating kindness in the workplace.
• Heard of RAOK – Random Acts of Kindness? Put a smile on someone's face by surprising them with a little act of kindness. Doing something nice for someone doesn't have to cost a lot of time or money – it's the small things in life that can make a big difference. Click here for inspiration.
• Check out NZDF Chaplain Amy Houben sharing about the power of compassion for self and others here.

Time for a mental health check-in?

Wondering if you need professional help? You can find some helpful guidance here. Click here for information on what to expect if you ask for help, and here to bust some common mental health myths.

You can also follow these hotlinks for quick and anonymous self-checks on your currents levels of resilience, anxiety and depression, and the health of your relationships, along with suggestions for improving these.

Need support?

If you are ever worried about your, or someone else's, mental health, the best place to get help is your GP or your local Defence Health Centre doctor.

Other options include:

- Call NZDF4U Wellbeing Support on 0800 NZDF4U (0800 693 348) or text 8881 for confidential 24/7 support.

- Your local NZDF Social Worker.

- Your local Defence Chaplain.

Supporting a mate? Find some tips here.