Peer Support Workshops

Peer Support is provided by Mind & Body as part of the Piki Contract, we provide group workshops with our peer supporters who are trained, youth friendly and have experienced mental distress themselves. We cover a range of topics listed below. If you would like to know more, please fill out this form and we will be in touch with you

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Relationships

This workshop looks at the different types of relationships we can have, how to strengthen our relations, navigating the impacts of our mental distress on relationships and dealing with conflict in relationships.

Gender identity

The topics we will focus on are gender identity versus gender expression, gender identity and culture, and navigating gender identity and mental distress. We’ll also look at gender identity and stigma.

Bad stuff happening

We are here to talk about what trauma and mental distress mean to us, especially focusing on gaining our own control. We look at sources of support and health coping mechanisms, planning and holistic understandings of health and well-being.

Looking ahead

This workshop looks at hope, what hope is and why it is important. We explore what happens when we lose and gain hope and set goals for how we can foster hope in our lives.

Cultural identity

Cultural identity starts with the importance of establishing what ‘cultural identity’ is in a broad sense. We discuss cultural identities, how they develop, access to culture, and cultural dislocation. We also explore the connection between culture and mental distress.

Study

This workshop looks at study options, creating a good study space and habits, positive and negative feelings about study and success while studying.

Independence

Independence explores what being independent means to us, autonomy vs. Independence and how to talk about autonomy and independence. We also look at losing and regaining autonomy / independence.

Housing

In this workshop we discuss what makes a good home/whare and the relationships at home. We look at different housing options and challenges, as well as moving and managing your home. We also discuss some of the myths surrounding the homeless in our communities.

Sexual orientation

Topics we discuss in this workshop include myths about sexual orientation, different sexual orientations, and sexual orientation and culture. We also explore sexual orientation and stigma and navigating sexual orientation and mental distress.

Work

We start by looking at the meaning and value of work and building a positive work identity. We explore the barriers to finding work, challenges at work, and maintaining a work-life balance

Money

In Money, we look at our expectations related to money and how to manage financial stress. We’ll explore budgeting, our financial supports, and goals, and how our emotions impact our spending.

E-Mental Health Support

There are lots of ways that you can learn more about your mental health, skills and strategies to manage distress and symptoms related to mental wellness. If you want to learn more about how your brain works, symptoms of anxiety, depression and ways to help this check out the following e-therapies. There’s no wait or travel time and you can work through these at your own pace.

Just a Thought

Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy modules are available on Just a Thought. If you would like to see a counsellor for in person CBT, you can self-refer here.

Small Steps

Stress can have a big impact on your life – Small Steps has short modules with ways to manage stress, calm your mind and lift your mood. It also has a resource page that has heaps of other Aotearoa mental health resources.

Aunty Dee

Aunty Dee helps you work through problems and come up with possible solutions – going through problems in a structured way can be helpful when life is overwhelming.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive behavioural therapy is a type of talking therapy which helps to break a problem down into smaller parts – the situation, thoughts, feelings, sensations and actions or behaviours. By understanding the thoughts that we have in certain situations, and how these affect our feelings and sensations we can understand our actions and behaviours better. We can also learn to challenge unhelpful thoughts and alter our behaviours.

Mentor Support

Whītiki Tauā is a FREE virtual mentoring support service. It connects you to a dedicated person who you can have regular chats with for 12 months via phone or video call.

You can join Whītiki Tauā if:

• you’re in Mana in Mahi or
• you’re 18-24 years old and on a Work and Income benefit or
• you’re 18-24 years old and have recently come off a benefit to start work or study

Access and Choice

Access & Choice is available for people living in the Greater Wellington and Wairarapa regions. Provided initially through your GP, Access and Choice is a flexible service that puts you at the centre and is provided by organisations specialising in wellbeing support services.

The intention is to support you in the short term (usually for less than three months) and is provided through a partnership between General Practitioners (Medical Centres) who work with Health Improvement Practitioners, Health Coaches, and Community Support Workers.

Resources

There is a lot of information out there about mental health and wellbeing, and sometimes it can be hard to know where to start. You can find links to a range of resources, tools and services at Health Navigator. 

Helplines

There are a lot of free phone, text and online chat services staffed by people who are trained to give confidential support to people struggling with mental distress and/or substance abuse challenges. Click here for a list of services.

Video stories

You can watch videos of New Zealanders sharing their stories of how they have dealt with mental distress and how they work on staying well. More sharers stories are available on depression.org.nz and The Lowdown.