Resource to help in tough times

• Published date: 21 June 2022
• Publication title: Ensign, The

The three creators of the resource, CHUR! All good, bro?, travelled from Auckland to share copies of the booklet at marae around Southland on Friday

They were joined by local health and social services staff, community connectors and kaumatua and rangatahi representatives.

The initiative was organised by Korari, the Maori Public Health team at Nga Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust in Invercargill.

Korari manager Karina Davis-Marsden said Maori men were ‘‘alarmingly over-represented’’ in New Zealand’s suicide statistics.

‘‘This resource was developed to awhi our tane [support our men] and get them talking to each other about their mental health wellness.

‘‘This resource is a taonga for our whanau, and the korero that can bring about the change that is needed to change these statistics.’’

Speaking at the Hokonui runanga, resource developer Mohi Allen said it was the culmination of a year and a-half of work, engaging with whanau around the country.

‘‘We did consultation down here and to complete the process we wanted to make sure we come back and gift it back to the places we received the information from.

‘‘In the resource...