INSIGHTS REPORT 32 – JUNE/JULY 2022
Mental Wellbeing Mindsets People thrive when they are physically, socially, and mentally well. And mental illness does not occur in a vacuum – it is affected by a range of factors. Thinking big Anxiety or depression – common mental illnesses – occur in a context and are often emotional responses to pressures impacting on people’s lives, work and leisure experiences. These may be economic, cultural, political, geographic. Mental illness is social as well as psychological, and intersects in complex ways with gender, race, socio-economic status and disability. Simone Fullagar Fostering good mental health requires us to talk about wellbeing from an holistic perspective, attend to underlying structural issues, and provide good support. We need to avoid focusing on ‘individuals’ as the problem and think about the impact of inequalities on wellbeing, particularly mental wellbeing. COVID has underlined the many factors that can impact on people’s work, personal lives, and mental health and wellbeing – most of which are beyond our personal control.
Te Whare Tapa Whā Te whare tapa whā is a model of the four dimensions of wellbeing developed by Ta Mason Durie in 1984 to provide a Māori perspective on health. The 4 dimensions are: •
taha tinana (physical wellbeing)
•
taha hinengaro (mental wellbeing)
•
taha wairua (spiritual wellbeing)
•
taha whānau (family wellbeing). 1
The four walls of the wharenui are connected with the whenua (land) which forms a solid foundation.
The role of recreation and sport Sport and leisure experiences can contribute to good mental health or undermine it. The inter-relationship between mental health, sport and recreation is complex and many factors can impact on people’s experiences. We know that in some sports, entrenched attitudes and practices mean that some groups, such as women and girls, LGBTQI+, disabled people, migrants – have been systematically excluded or forced to leave, either directly or by bullying, harassment, disrespect and/or social exclusion. In addition, the focus on performance can over-ride the importance of wellbeing. High profile sports people are speaking out about their own experiences, providing practical examples for change. The recent review of NZ Cycling identified that there was, “…significant room for improvement in building a culture where people can thrive…create a better balance between winning and the welfare of athletes coaches and others.” Steve Tew, CEO, HPSNZ The good news Some organisations are working to change these exclusive cultures. Positive sport and recreation environments can contribute to removing barriers, reinforcing diversity and promoting a culture of inclusion that contributes to the good mental health of participants. The positive impact extends into participants’ lives beyond participation in the activity. The evidence-based Five Ways to Wellbeing shows us what to do to ensure we are well mentally.
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