New guidance designed to support wellbeing and the teaching and learning of mental health education in schools and kura was released today by Associate Ministers of Education Jan Tinetti and Kelvin Davis.
Mental Health Education Years 1-13: A guide for teachers, leaders, and school boards is designed to help schools adopt an approach to strengthen teaching mental health education. It is part of the same “family” of resources as Relationships and Sexuality Education: A Guide for Teachers, Leaders, and boards of trustees published by the Ministry of Education in 2020.
The overall aim of this guide is to enable schools to deliver effective, high-quality mental health education programmes to ākonga. There has been an extensive consultation process with diverse communities, government departments, health education organisations, and youth representative groups.
This guide will help schools plan mental health education programmes that promote effective and empowering approaches to mental health education for all ākonga, including: ākonga Māori, ākonga from Pacific backgrounds, ākonga of all sexualities and gender identities, ākonga from migrant and refugee backgrounds and disabled ākonga.
“It is undeniable that ākonga who are happy and healthy learn better,’ Jan Tinetti states.
Also launched was Te Oranga Mauri– Te Hā o Hinepūtehue. This resource affirms existing successful practice in kura, offering a new way of aligning with regenerating ancestral practice by increasing awareness of your own mauri, the mauri of others and its impacts.
“Te Oranga Mauri is grounded in mātauranga Māori and kōrero tuku iho and meant for tumuaki, tumuwhakahaere and kaiako to support teaching and learning throughout the marau levels. The resource has been created by several key mātanga, subject matter experts specifically from Te Ao Hauora, Te Ao Māori and supported by Ngā Āhuatanga Ako,” Kelvin Davis says.
These two documents have been developed in response to significant global and national changes, which are causing major challenges for ākonga, whānau and schools.
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of young people in Aotearoa New Zealand reporting serious mental health challenges. It was noted in the 2018 government inquiry into mental health and addiction that young people are asking for guidance on mental health and how to look after themselves and their friends.
“By providing guidance like this we are ensuring that kaiako and communities are well equipped to support our young people in this space. When ākonga learn the skills to support their own mental health and that of others, they have the building blocks to boost their own oranga mauri, resilience and wellbeing,” says Jan Tinetti.
Our Curriculum Lead service will be available to support schools and kura with the implementation of this guidance. They are also available to facilitate connections between schools and kura to educational psychologists, other mental health professionals, and mental health services available to learners where needed.
Transcript: New guidance designed to support wellbeing and the teaching and learning of mental health education in schools and kura
Ko tēnei te wiki o te Oranga Hinengaro, i Aotearoa. He kaupapa whakahirahira tēnei hei whakamana I te Oranga Hinengaro me te Hauora o ngā ākonga. Otirā, me ako ēnei ākonga i ngā pukenga, ngā whanaketanga o te oranga hinengaro me te hauora, hei poipoia ngā tipuranga o ētahi atu.” This week is Mental Health Awareness week around Aotearoa, I am thrilled to launch the Mental Health Education guide. This guide has been developed as part of a package of resources to support wellbeing. As a former teacher I know it will have a positive impact on the wellbeing of our ākonga. The guide provides an opportunity to ensure that more of our ākonga have their identities valued, and feel safe and confident in themselves and in their learning environments. It is undeniable that ākonga who are happy and healthy learn better. Mental Health Education: A guide for teachers, leaders, and school boards is designed to help schools adopt an approach to strengthen teaching mental health education. It is part of the same “family” of resources as Relationships and Sexuality Education: A Guide for Teachers, Leaders, and Boards of Trustees published by the Ministry of Education in 2020. The overall aim is to enable schools to deliver effective, high-quality mental health education programmes to ākonga. There has been an extensive consultation process with diverse communities, government departments, health education organisations, and youth representative groups. This guide will help schools plan mental health education programmes that promote effective and empowering approaches to mental health education for all ākonga. Including: ākonga Māori, ākonga from Pacific backgrounds, ākonga of all sexualities and gender identities, ākonga from migrant and refugee backgrounds, and disabled ākonga. Also being launched today is Te Oranga Mauri – Te Hā o Hinepūtehue. This is a resource that affirms existing successful practice in kura, offers a new way of aligning with regenerating ancestral practice by increasing awareness of your own mauri, the mauri of others and its impacts. Te Oranga Mauri – Te Hā o Hinepūtehue is grounded in mātauranga Māori and kōrero tuku iho and meant for tumuaki, tumuwhakahaere and kaiako to support teaching and learning throughout the marau levels. The resource has been created by several key mātanga, subject matter experts specifically from Te Ao Hauora (the health and clinical sphere), Te Ao Māori (Māori worldview proponents) and supported by Ngā Āhuatanga Ako (learning dimensions). These documents have been developed in response to significant global and national changes, which are causing major challenges for ākonga, whānau and schools. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of young people in Aotearoa New Zealand reporting serious mental health challenges. It was noted in the 2018 government inquiry into mental health and addiction that young people are asking for guidance on mental health and how to look after themselves and their friends. Learning about your own mental health includes acknowledging that wellbeing ebbs and flows and can be challenging in different ways and at different times. We also know that sometimes it’s hard to have conversations about mental health and wellbeing. By providing guidance like this we are ensuring that kaiako and communities are well equipped to support our young people in this space. When ākonga learn the skills to support their own mental health and that of others, they have the building blocks to boost their own oranga mauri, resilience and wellbeing. To help support these documents, you will have heard that we fund Curriculum Leads. They work directly with schools, kura, early learning services and kōhanga reo to support the teaching of mental health and healthy relationships and promote wellbeing of learners. They also work with leaders and teachers to deliver high quality Health and Physical Education and Hauora curriculum. The Mental Health Education guide is available online on TKI and printed copies will be distributed to all schools in Term 4. You will be able to order extra copies from the resource catalogue ‘Down the Back of the Chair’. A focus on wellbeing has been part of the Government’s work since before the COVID-19 pandemic and this guide provides us with another opportunity to support our national educational community. I hope you will explore these new guides and discuss with your community about how they could be best used in your school or kura. This year's theme of Mental Health Awareness week is Reconnect. I really encourage you to do so, maybe today you could check in with a friend or whānau member or get outside into nature – reconnect with the people and places that lift you up, hei pikinga waiora.
