Media release from the Mental Health Foundation

Today marks the conclusion of the Mental Health Foundation's Manawaora o Nga Taiohi programme and the Foundation would like to take this opportunity to celebrate its achievements.

Manawaora O Nga Taiohi is a Māori-based programme that addressed the mental health needs and wellbeing of young Māori men and their whānau living within the Canterbury and West Coast regions and had a particular focus on those vulnerable to suicide.

Canterbury and the West Coast have some of the highest suicide statistics in New Zealand, particularly for young Māori, so the dedicated programme aimed to help participants strengthen known protective factors such as cultural identity, resilience and belonging.

The young men and women would stay overnight on a marae and take part in a variety of activities including learning taiaha, the haka and developing personal goals, all intended to build pride and self confidence in a cultural setting. The activities also help address their physical, spiritual and emotional needs.

The programme was funded by Te Puni Kokiri and the Ministry of Youth Development for a three year period. For the past 18 months, the Mental Health Foundation has been seeking replacement funding for this programme but has been unsuccessful.

In 2009 a highly positive review was completed by Te Rau Matatini, an organisation supporting Māori workforce development, in which many of the successes of the project were highlighted by both participants and researchers. Amongst other commendations the review noted that rangatahi engaged in help seeking behaviours through continuous participation in wananga and that the programme achieved commitment from typically hard tï reach participants through building trust and being honest with the participants.

"Manawaora o Nga Taiohi developed self-esteem, strengthened and acknowledged the importance of cultural identity and provided Māori youth with positive role models," says Judi Clements, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation. "The programme was run with, and generated a lot of pride amongst rangatahi and this is somethingᾠeveryone involved in the programme are enormously proud of.

The Foundation acknowledges the significant contribution made by all Manawaora o Nga Taiohi staff and the whānau of these staff who provided support throughout the duration of the programme.