Time to get off that couch and get active

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Mental Health Awareness Week - Day Five – Time to get off that couch and get active
October 10 – 16, 2011

With the country being gripped by rugby fever and our cherished All Blacks still in the hunt to bring home the Cup, the Mental Health Foundation is reminding New Zealander’s not to forget about their own mental health and wellbeing as they celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week.

The theme for the week is ‘GET IN THE GAME: Training for happiness’ and is an appeal for everyone to focus on one of the five winning way to wellbeing each day of the week.

“Just like the All Blacks have trained to ensure they are physically and mentally prepared for the challenges ahead, we need to train to keep our mental health at its peak” says Judi Clements, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation. “The five winning ways are proven tools that people can incorporate into their lives to support their own wellbeing and that of the world around them.”

Today the call is to Be Active. We know that physical activity makes us feel great and is beneficial to both our body and our mind. By including more activity in your day to day living, this not only moves your mood but also helps it become a habit.

“Physical activity does not necessarily mean having to go out there and train like an All Black” says Clements. “Being active comes in many forms and people need to find an activity that is both enjoyable and suits their level of mobility and fitness”

To Be Active is as easy as taking the stairs instead of the lift, signing up to a local gym or swimming pool or organising a local community game of touch rugby down at the park, which will also see you connecting with your family, friends and neighbours. For more suggested activities visit the Foundation's online Mental Health Awareness Week toolkit, http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/page/999-get-involved.

Mental Health Awareness Week sees a number of exciting events planned throughout the country including music gigs, Zumba fundraisers, a book launch, an art exhibition and much more. A full list of events can be found at our events calendar, http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/whats_on/view/browse/.

And if you’re looking for something new to wear to the gym, a limited edition range of Get in the Game t-shirts have also been released and are available to order from the Foundation's online shop, http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/shop/listing/view/13/.

Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 10-16 October, and is endorsed by the World Federation for Mental Health and marked in over 150 countries.

ENDS

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