Mental health is more than the absence of illness, it’s about having a degree of mental strength and stability, and knowing how to keep that going. Good mental health is a protective factor against both physical and mental illness and leads to our ability to withstand the knockbacks and struggles of life. Good mental health and wellbeing is everybody’s business; the mental health of each us affects the mental health of all of us.

Mental health promotion is about helping people and communities to improve and maintain good mental health, it involves helping people and organisations learn about mental health generally, and how that can be improved at work and at home.

Most of our work is at the group, community and organisation level, using information resources, training sessions, policy assistance, and media and events in this process. We also work to reduce the stigma and discrimination experienced by those who experience psychological distress or mental ill-health.

Wherever possible, the work of Health Action Trust’s Mental Health Promotion Team is done in collaboration with other agencies including local councils, Nelson Bays Primary Health, Te Whatu ora (Health New Zealand) Nelson/Marlborough, (Te Waipounamu Region), employers, and NGOs like Age Concern.

Health Action Trusts’ Mental Health work is funded by the Ministry of Health.